Remote learning for region's students extends to at least Jan. 25, says Ahmed

Elementary and secondary school students in Windsor-essex will be learning from home until at least Jan. 25.

Medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed recommended on Thursday morning that the province extend its closure of schools for in-class learning until the regional lockdown's scheduled end date of Jan 23.

Also Thursday, the province announced remote learning would continue until Jan. 25 for all of southern Ontario.

“While there is no doubt in my mind, or in ... my team's mind, that in-person learning is critical for the developing mind, we cannot jeopardize the safety of our children given the data we are seeing in our community,” Ahmed said.

During the Windsor-essex County Health Unit's virtual news conference, Ahmed presented new pandemic data relating specifically to infections among school-aged children.

While there was a spike in child cases just before Labour Day weekend, the region did well to contain the spread in September and October. Only about 10 per cent of infected kids contracted the virus through outbreaks. Things changed in November after more students returned to in-class learning and the region's COVID-19 rates began to steadily rise, and nearly 40 per cent of cases among children were linked to outbreaks.

Even after Ahmed ordered students to stay home and switch to a remote learning model starting on Dec. 11, the region “continued to see a significant surge in cases” in the school-aged population, with most of those cases linked to household contacts.

Between Dec. 11 and Jan. 5, the region accumulated 333 cases among school-aged kids. Up until that point, 395 kids in total had tested positive.

There are currently 33 active cases among local elementary school students and 32 in secondary schools.

“If we kept the schools open, you can imagine... how that would have impacted our school system,” Ahmed said.

Many school-aged kids are being taken for COVID-19 testing — often more than 60 a day in recent weeks — with more than 25 per cent of those ages nine to 13 currently testing positive. One or two days this month, about 35 per cent tested in that age group were positive for COVID-19.

For those aged four to eight, roughly 15 per cent are testing positive, and approximately 20 per cent of those aged 14 to 17 are testing positive.

Children are only approved for testing if they have symptoms of COVID-19 or are considered a high-risk close contact of a confirmed case. No surveillance testing is performed on the school-aged population, unlike in long-term care and retirement homes where outbreaks have been declared.

The number of school-aged children visiting local emergency departments for respiratory issues, fever, and influenza-like illness — which may or may not be COVID-19 — also spiked in December, Ahmed said.

“All of those are really concerning trends for our community.

“When we look at the schoolaged children, the number is the same, and the increase is the same,” Ahmed said. “They are not immune. They are not protected in any way. Having that many cases in school children definitely poses many challenges with schools continuing to do in-person lessons.”

The region as a whole continues to see a “drastic” increase in the number of new cases, “and that number is not coming down at this time,” he said. The local weekly infection rate is 348 cases per 100,000 people, the highest in the province.

Roughly 12 per cent of COVID -19 tests in Windsor-essex are coming back positive, also the highest rate in the province.

The health unit has shared its data with the Ministry of Education and is “working with them closely to find the best way to keep our children safe by continuing online learning,” Ahmed said.

The province had initially scheduled in-person learning to resume for elementary schools on Jan. 11, and at secondary schools on Jan. 25.

In a written statement on Thursday, Stephen Lecce, Ontario's minister of education, said he remains “firmly committed to getting students back into class as soon as possible,” and that “there is nothing more important.

“However, the best medical and scientific experts have been clear. While schools have been safe places for kids, the sharp rise in community transmission puts that progress and Ontario families at risk. During this time, students will remain engaged in live teacher-led online learning with access to enhanced mental health and technology supports.”

Children with special needs can continue to attend school in-person, “based on their unique challenges,” as per provincial guidelines, said Ahmed.

Schools can remain open for the provision of full-time childcare services.

While the health unit recommends as many people work from home as possible, educators and staff can attend schools to conduct remote learning, attend meetings, and manage facilities while following infection prevention and control measures.

“It was not an easy decision, I can tell you,” Ahmed said.

“My guiding light is always the best interest of the public, the best interest from a public health perspective. We'll continue to do that — it doesn't matter how difficult this decision is.”

When we look at the school-aged children, the number is the same, and the increase is the same. They are not immune.