No hasty decisions will be made when it comes to returning students to schools in Ontario.
Premier Doug Ford confirms that any decision on a return-to-class scenario will only be made with input from the Chief Medical Officer.
The answer came after he was asked if he would entertain returning students in order to build up a so-called ‘herd immunity’ to the virus, as has been suggested by some in Quebec’s government recently.
“The answer is no, we aren’t sending our kids back into harm’s way until we get the green light from the Chief Medical Officer of Health and the command table,” said Ford. “It’s not worth it – we aren’t going to chance risking our children and their health.”
Education Minister Stephen Lecce says the current goal is to plan for between now and June to keep students learning at home on through to graduation.
Asked if the new school year in September would start with students in schools, Lecce said if the government needs to take additional measures next year they’ll take them, but that no decision’s been made yet on that question.
In the meantime, a new partnership will see Apple and Rogers purchase I-pads with free wireless data for low-income families to learn from home. Learning software will also be loaded on them for free by the tech and telecommunication giants.
Over 21,000 I-pads are currently being deployed to school boards/students.
In addition, Rogers will allow eligible households to sign up for high-speed Internet with no overage fees for $9.99 monthly.
Last night the Province also issued an order to provide childcare for essential workers.
Effective today, essential workers can start applying to local childcare providers.
A list of emergency child care centres is available to see by clicking here
To learn more about the new partnership between school boards, Apple and Rogers, click here
https://twitter.com/Sflecce/status/1251206866417451008
Our frontline workers put the needs of others ahead of themselves. These heroes work 24/7 to ensure we can stay safe and healthy. Today we’ve announcing expanded access to emergency child care for essential workers. https://t.co/1OCAhBjNGR pic.twitter.com/KjWn4oRqvd
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 17, 2020
To watch today’s full address by Premier Doug Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, see below: