School boards push for mandated vaccines

Open letter to premier calls for `decisive action'

The organization representing Ontario's English-language public school boards has asked the province to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for all eligible students, staff and visitors in schools.

In a letter to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Cathy Abraham, president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association, says the OPSBA supports calls by medical professionals and public health experts for mandatory vaccination in schools.

“As I'm sure you'll agree, ensuring that we provide the safest possible environment for our students, staff, and school communities is a top priority for all of us,” she wrote. “Swift and decisive action must be taken to ensure that our schools remain as safe as possible, and that we have the greatest chance of keeping our schools open for in-person learning, which is vital to the mental health and development of our students.”

The OPSBA represents 41 school boards and authorities that are responsible for 1.3 million students in the province.

COVID-19: BY THE NUMBERS O T TAWA

21: New cases

27,945: Total cases

0: New deaths

593: Total deaths

114: Active cases

4: In hospital

1: In ICU

9.0: Rolling seven-day average of cases per 100,000 people

1.0: Per cent test positivity, previous seven days

1.23: Estimated R(t), seven-day average. A number lower than one indicates the virus is receding.

ONTARIO

(Reported Thursday)

510: New confirmed cases

554,472: Total cases

4: New deaths (two occurred more than two months ago)

9,416: Total deaths

123: Currently in hospital (12 were fully vaccinated)

*111: In intensive care

*72: On a ventilator

(*Note: Ontario Public Health statistics of ICU hospitalizations and ventilator cases contain some patients who no longer test positive for COVID-19 but who are being treated for conditions caused by the virus.) 48,682: Doses administered 20,096,593: Total doses administered (81.2% of Ontarians 12 and older have one dose, 72.5% have two doses)

9,493,726: Residents fully vaccinated