School closures point to need for broad in-school testing: NDP

TORONTO — NDP Education critic Marit Stiles said 18 current school closures across the province, plus the closure of all schools in Windsor-Essex, point to a desperate need for a broad, in-school testing program.

“We know there are children with COVID-19 in our schools who are asymptomatic. A broad, in-school testing program will help us to catch those cases before they unintentionally allow the virus to spread to classmates and staff, causing more illness, spread and school closures.

We know Doug Ford doesn’t want to spend the money but withholding testing and just waiting for a vaccine is going to cost our kids too much of another school year, leading to more learning gaps — and for some children and staff, the consequences of catching COVID-19 could be much worse.”