ONTARIO -- In response to the Ontario Government’s announcement that in-school learning will be delayed for another two weeks, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees Association, offered their concerns and views.
Their response, On Jan. 3, is in line with what all Canadians have been told regarding their best defense against COVID-19, that being getting vaccinated.
"In response to today's government announcement that the reopening of in-school learning will be delayed for two weeks, OCSTA, on behalf of the Catholic District School Boards we represent, defers to the expertise of the medical health experts arriving at these difficult decisions and we remain committed to supporting Catholic school boards in their priority on the health and safety and well-being of their students and staff," said OCSTA president Patrick Daly.
"Although we were not consulted regarding recent decisions, we very much regret the disruption this has caused to students, staff and parents," added Daly.
"We continue to call upon the government to give priority to students and all school staff to receive all of the vaccine doses for which they are eligible and add COVID-19 to the list of designated diseases in Ontario Regulations 261/13 Designated Diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
We express deep gratitude to system and school leaders, teachers, support staff, students, parents and trustees for their heroic service and understanding throughout these unprecedented times."