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Ontario New Democrats want free PCR testing available for children under five

Horwath said some families who worry about children with symptoms are being forced to spend money on expensive tests
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Ontario's New Democrats believe children under age five should qualify for PCR COVID testing to help make "child care safer," according to a news release from official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Child Care critic Bhutila Karpoche.

“Premier Doug Ford’s choice to block access to COVID tests for most Ontarians is wrong, and for parents of little ones who cannot be vaccinated, it’s been especially awful,” said Horwath. 

“Families with kids in child care have been left to agonize over each exposure and every tummy ache — or shell out hundreds of dollars to buy a test. Some families have taken their kids right out of daycare because they don’t feel safe anymore. With free PCR COVID tests, we can make little ones and child care workers safer, and help parents get back to work after false alarms.”

It was on December 30 that Ontario changed procedures so that only the most vulnerable residents would be able to qualify for PCR testing. The province also said that children under age 12 who show COVID-19 symptoms would be required to be isolated for five days. Their in-home contacts would also be required to isolate, said the provincial directive. 

"Their household contacts are also required to isolate with them. These individuals can end isolation after five days if their symptoms are improved for at least 24 hours and all public health and safety measures, such as masking and physical distancing, are followed," said the province. 

The NDP said the policy is flawed. Families can buy their way out of quarantine with a negative PCR test, but each test costs about $150, said the news release.

 “I’m hearing from a lot of families who can’t afford to take five days off work, and can’t afford to shell out hundreds of dollars for PCR tests every time there’s a runny nose,” said Karpoche, who has two young children. 

“In child care, we have unvaccinated kids gathering indoors. Little ones are usually not great at keeping a mask on. Yet we’re not testing them. Everyone deserves access to testing as well as paid sick days — and one urgent step in the right direction would be for Doug Ford to announce right now that kids under five can get PCR tests for free again.”

The NDP also wants N95s for all child care staff, every day; smaller child care group sizes; faster boosters for child care staff; rapid tests for families and staff in child care; paid sick ad family care days; and for the government to resume tracking and reporting COVID cases in child care.



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