Asymptomatic COVID-19 surveillance testing will begin in area schools on Feb. 22.
Minister of Education Stephen Lecce released more information on expanded testing in Ontario schools in a memo Tuesday, national media reports indicate, although nothing has been published on the subject so far on provincial websites.
Testing began this week in the GTA regions of Toronto, York and Peel, but will begin next week outside of those regions.
Most school boards will be required to co-ordinate the testing of five per cent of its elementary and secondary schools, reaching two per cent of their student populations weekly.
These targets don’t apply to smaller school boards with less than 10 schools, as the ministry will work with those boards to determine an appropriate testing plan.
Norm Blaseg, director of education with the Rainbow District School Board, briefed trustees with the board with the latest information at their Feb. 16 meeting.
He confirmed testing will begin in this area Feb. 22.
Blaseg said five per cent of the board’s elementary and secondary schools means at least two Rainbow schools per week will be targeted for testing.
“Boards are also asked to reach two per cent of their student population per week,” he said. “For us, that’s about 260 students.”
Blaseg said schools targeted for COVID-19 testing will be selected by school boards, with support from the Ministry of Education and local public health units.
“School boards are encouraged to prioritize schools in areas of high transmission, high case numbers, and schools where access to current testing programs may be challenging,” he said.
“Testing will use a combination of rapid antigen and PCR testing, and will look to use less-invasive methods of testing where possible.”
Rapid antigen testing looks for the proteins from the COVID-19 virus, and produces results in 15-20 minutes. PCR (also known as polymerase chain reaction) testing looks for virus cells, and can be either a rapid test or involve lab analysis (considered the “gold standard” of testing).
“The testing will be voluntary, and consent will be required,” Blaseg said. “Testing will be for asymptomatic students and staff only.”
School boards are also encouraged to include children and staff from child-care centres in their testing plans.
“We will determine a testing plan for Rainbow schools in the next few days,” Blaseg said. “Our testing plans will be shared with Public Health Sudbury & Districts.”
Blaseg added that the ministry has also advised boards that voluntary in-pharmacy testing for asymptomatic school staff will be available across much of the province starting Feb. 19.
Trustee Judy Kosmerly asked Blaseg who will be conducting this asymptomatic testing.
He said there’s nothing official on this yet, but his understanding is the Ministry of Education will hire a third-party contractor that uses mobile units.
“They would be facilitated through Toronto through whatever measures the ministry has in terms of that contract, but hiring folks from Sudbury to work for them,” Blaseg said.
Trustee Anita Gibson asked Blaseg if the Rainbow board had spoken to the Sudbury Catholic District School Board about their experience with COVID-19 surveillance testing.
Testing took place late last month at three Sudbury Catholic board schools that had experienced outbreaks.
Blaseg said he has spoken to Sudbury Catholic board director of education Joanne Bénard on the subject, and is working closely with the other three local boards.
“I’ve also been in contact with the other three directors as of today, because we’d like to coordinate by region,” he said.
“So if we have a pocket, let’s say, right now Cyril Varney (a COVID-19 case was reported at the Rainbow board elementary school this week).
“So why wouldn't all school boards in that particular area take advantage of the testing for that area because our kids play with each other, right? Although they’re not supposed to, but we know that they do.
“So there’s an opportunity for us to work together in order to get the testing.”
