Ontario Set To Announce COVID-19 Rapid Testing In Schools

By Staff The Canadian Press

Posted October 5, 2021 6:58 am

2:07Questions about future of school rapid COVID-19 test program

WATCH ABOVE: Global News recently reported on a group of parents in east Toronto who took their children’s safety into their own hands by starting an asymptomatic COVID-19 testing program. But Ontario says those tests should only go to businesses. Shallima Maharaj reports. TORONTO — Ontario’s chief medical officer of health is set to make an announcement today, and a source says it is about COVID-19 and schools.

A government source with knowledge of the announcement but who was not authorized to speak publicly about it, says it will be about rapid testing and schools.

The announcement comes after groups of parents had organized surveillance testing for their schools using the rapid test kits, but the government told agencies to stop distributing them to anyone but businesses.

Chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore has said widespread asymptomatic surveillance testing in schools isn’t recommended because it isn’t an effective tool.

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But he signalled at a news conference last week that the province was working on an asymptomatic testing strategy.

Moore is also set to hold a weekly briefing on Thursday to update the province on the response to COVID-19.