It doesn’t have to be this way

The is no silver bullet to stop COVID. But there are are known, available, affordable mitigations that, when combined in a multi-layered approach, can dramatically improve safety.

Scientific evidence and comprehensive data analysis should be behind every public health decision across the province — not political expediency or popularity.

Solutions for today

The situation is urgent. We need to use effective, available tools to reduce the spread.

Masking

A high-quality mask (KN-95 or better) reduces the amount of airborne pathogens in the air. Universal masking is dramatically more effective than individual masking.

Safety plans

Schools should have a plan to reduce risk in high-risk situations. Cohorting, alternative schedules, and flexible lunch arrangements can reduce risk when other mitigations aren’t possible.

Indoor air quality

Indoor air can be improved through ventilation, filtration, and purification. HVAC upgrades, standalone filtration units, UVGI, Far-UVC and improved classroom airflow can reduce airborne pathogens.

Data transparency

Risk assessment depends on the availability of accurate data including indoor air quality measurements, wastewater data, case reporting and school absentee rates.

Testing

Rapid Antigen and PCR tests must be accessible, available, and affordable to everyone.

Early detection, test-to-return policies, case reporting , and contact tracing can reduce community spread.

Data-driven protocols

There must be metric-driven protocols for when to remove some of these layers of protection – and when to quickly re-implement them.

As the science evolves, so will the available solutions. These protocols must adapt to emerging science and new solutions.

Strategies for tomorrow and beyond

Applying the evidence-based lessons from COVID is the only way to restore public health to prepare for the next pandemic. Experts have proposed many solutions. We need leaders to implement them.

Establishing an independent science advisory table that is government-funded but not government-run to support a true arms-length public health organization
Classify the position of Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) as a medical position, not a political position.
CMOH should be beholden to the science advisory table to make public health decisions that are backed by science and in the best interest of all Ontarians.

Prioritize resources towards vaccination research, including sterilizing vaccines and nasal/mucosal vaccines similar to the previous ‘Project Warp Speed’
Revise existing protocols to expedite the distribution of new vaccines to a broader group of people, including children
Re-evaluate and re-consider speed of approval of vaccinations and any potential anti-viral therapy for all age groups reflective of the ever-changing nature of the Covid-19 virus

Safer schools are possible.

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