Ontario COVID-19 Voluntary Testing for Schools

Ontario COVID-19 Voluntary Testing for Schools
Posted on 11/27/2020
Ontario COVID-19 Voluntary Testing for Schools

On Thursday, November 26, the Ontario government announced it is launching targeted voluntary testing of asymptomatic students and staff in regions of the province which currently have a high number of active COVID-19 cases. 


The Ministry of Education, along with the Ministry of Health and Ontario Health, are working with participating school boards and local public health units to support implementation. This initiative will make it easier to track and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools. It may also inform public health decisions and help to manage outbreaks. Participating schools will be in Ottawa, Toronto, Peel Region and York Region.


The OCDSB, in partnership with Ottawa Public Health and CHEO, will be supporting this initiative. Based on guidance of the local health authority, testing will take place at select schools in our district.


The first on-site mobile testing clinic will be held at Manordale Public School on Sunday, November 29. It was selected in follow-up to a partial outbreak at the school.


The families of Manordale students and staff will be invited to participate in the testing at the school. The test for the children will be different than for adults. The child’s test will be done in the mouth and the front of the nose, and most children do not mind the test, according to OPH.


More details have been emailed to the school community from Ottawa Public Health.


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