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Ontario nurses welcome government’s school reopening plan; say additional measures needed to stave off worst effects of fourth wave ( Aug. 3, 2021)
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With only one month left until schools reopen in Ontario, the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is pleased the provincial government’s plan includes mandatory indoor masking for students in grades one through 12 and improving ventilation systems. These measures meet some of RNAO’s long-standing recommendations to Premier Ford, including those in the association’s July 28 open letter. “The measures are essential to minimize the impact of a fourth wave of COVID-19 as Ontario opens school doors to students and staff,” says RNAO CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun.
“Although RNAO is pleased to see a paragraph dedicated to vaccination in the government’s plan, it’s just that – a paragraph,” says Grinspun, adding that “given how effective vaccines are in the face of the highly transmissible Delta variant and the emerging Lambda variant, nurses will continue to insist on mandatory vaccination for all educational staff (and health-care workers), unless they have a medical exemption.” RNAO joins Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore in urging school boards to work with public health units to promote vaccination uptake, and “we will support the move if school boards (and health-care organizations) make it mandatory,” emphasizes Grinspun.
“The association also stresses the importance of requiring masks for kindergarten kids, and hopes the government will modify its strategy to reflect this,” says RNAO president Morgan Hoffarth. “The plan also fails to specify physical distancing requirements in schools other than among separate cohorts,” adds Hoffarth. “While we are delighted music classes are back, we caution against the resumption of indoor choir practices given what we know about aerosol transmission of the virus.”
The government plan does outline ongoing mental health support for students but provides no concrete plan for this to be achieved. We call on Dr. Moore to permanently employ the 625 public health nurse positions across Ontario schools, as well as the additional 50 community wellness nurses to serve First Nations communities.
Nurses join students and parents in celebrating a back-to-the-classroom September, but additional measures are necessary to ensure a safe return for staff, students and their families to keep the learning experience positive amid an ongoing pandemic.
The Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO) is the professional association representing registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nursing students in Ontario. Since 1925, RNAO has advocated for healthy public policy, promoted excellence in nursing practice, increased nurses’ contribution to shaping the health system, and influenced decisions that affect nurses and the public they serve. For more information about RNAO, visit RNAO.ca or follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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Contact information
Madison Scaini
Communications Officer/Writer
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)
1-800-268-7199 ext. 274
416-408-5645
mscaini@RNAO.ca
Marion Zych
Director of Communications
Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario (RNAO)
1-800-268-7199 ext. 209
416-408-5605
647-406-5605 (cell)
mzych@RNAO.ca
Download the Media Release
Our record of advocacy and action related to schools reopening in Ontario:
Our CEO's blog posts
Our CEO Dr. Doris Grinspun has been providing RNAO members and the public with important COVID-19 updates, advice and commentary since the onset of the pandemic through her official blog.
Blog posts related to Ontario's schools reopening:
- Ontario’s nurses welcome the province’s announcement and call for a stronger vaccine mandate and action on vaccine certificates (Aug. 21, 2021)
- RNAO welcomes continuing public health restrictions and mandated vaccination for health care workers: More to be done to protect our children and the economy nurses say (Aug. 15, 2021)
- Is it more infectious? Is it spreading in schools? This is what we know about the Delta variant and kids (Aug. 15, 2021)
- Ontario nurses welcome government’s school reopening plan; say additional measures needed to stave off worst effects of fourth wave (Aug. 8, 2021)
- Preparing for the fourth wave (Aug. 1, 2021)
- RNAO supports Premier Ford's announcement on schools as risk is too high (June 5, 2021)
- May 29, 2021 COVID-19 report
- School reopening: Ontario government can still do the right thing on class sizes (Aug. 7, 2020)
- August 7, 2020 COVID-19 report (Aug. 7, 2020)
- Preparing for the second wave of COVID-19: Discussion (July 31, 2020)
- July 31, 2020 COVID-19 report
- Preparing for the second wave of COVID-19: What is the plan? (July 24, 2020)
- June 26, 2020 COVID-19 report
- May 21, 2020 COVID-19 report
Media releases, advisories and interviews
RNAO has been actively engaged with the media since the onset of the pandemic.
Please visit our Press Room for our media releases and advisories, media conferences, and media hits related to COVID-19 and schools reopening.
Maskathon
On July 14, 2020, we launched our #Maskathon campaign to encourage both children and adults to wash their hands, maintain physical distancing and wear a mask to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We continue to urge anyone over three years of age to properly wear a non-medical mask in indoor public spaces, busy areas and on transit.
To learn more, please visit our official #Maskathon page in our COVID-19 portal.
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