Again, this is arguably the single largest issue with the non-plan "plan" from the @OntarioPCParty for #OntEd.

Let's look at the myriad of reasons why. https://twitter.com/TorontoStar/status/1297836435416838146

1. Not throwing up? Kids who *are* throwing up sometimes get sent to school. Why? Because there exists no mandatory financial safety support for their parents or guardians to stay home and care for them.

Result = children with #COVID will be sent to schools.

2. A week!? So a parent without paid sick days is now losing not a day of pay but a week of pay???

"Not easy"? Well, I guess being evicted or starving isn't easy, so it's not totally inaccurate.

Result = children with COVID will be sent to schools.

3. School staff (which here unfairly becomes just "teachers"; my wife is a school secretary and will be at risk too, for example) *also* do not have the financial support to make such precaution possible.

(cont)

3 (cont).

Teachers get 11 paid sick days. Following this deservedly rigorous isolation protocol will result in burning through all of them for almost every teacher by Jan the latest. (Sidenote: Equals tons of supply T's coming into schools; whole other problem).

3 (cont).

Remember my wife? The secretary? She gets even fewer paid sick days.

(Sidenote: The only reason either of us get any paid sick days is care of organized labour, aka. unions. These days aren't the result of employer benevolence. And you should have them too, so...

...if u don't, instead of getting pissed at those who get paid leave & calling them entitled, maybe get pissed off at ur employer + government, & unionize? Just a bc pretty much every job protection u currently have is care of a union, even if ur not in one. Fact-check me.)

3 (cont.)

But circling back, ed staff don't have the requisite paid days to stay for the suggested amount of . If one has just two runny s during the , they've now burned through all their paid days in isolation.

Result = ed staff with COVID will come to school.

4. Ok, this one isn't directly about lack of paid sick days, but it will lead to the exacerbation of that problem, and present other major issues, so we're getting into it.

(cont)

4 (cont).

So these isolation rooms? We're not talking a "clean room" from Outbreak. We're talking a borderline closet that up until this year housed extra photocopy . (Sidenote: "A spare classroom"? What is that? I have never seen one in my entire career, so I am truly .)

4 (cont).

But anyways, will have to be supervised in these iso rooms bc they're still . Also bc they are now likely they have COVID bc an adult has brought them to the "COVID isolation room" which for anyone under I dunno, (pick any age), is likely scary AF.

4 (cont).

So now u have a non-medical professional in close proximity to a who may have COVID. They are in close proximity bc (a) they brought them down, and (b) they're not a monster, so when the kid is bc they are , offering platitudes at 6ft ain't going to cut it.

4 (cont).

Also, that ed staff with the kid in the COVID room isn't in full hospital grade PPE. They have a board issued mask which is the same material as the one you can buy at your local convenience store. So that's not great.

But wait, there's more!

4 (cont).

The iso room, no matter which room is used, is sure to be very small. Why? Bc remember that @Sflecce has funded only an #UnsafeSeptember, so any larger space in the school *must* be used for the purposes of teaching classes comprised of PRE-COVID CLASS SIZES.

4 (cont).

And yes, even in HS where the classes have been capped at 15, space is at a premium.

So why does this matter?

Well, it might be worth considering the distinct possibility that more than one student in a school will be identified as sick at the same time.

4 (cont).

So now we have two, maybe three, maybe more (!) "isolating" (what a joke) in the same room. Think about how on edge staff will be. Every repeated cough from a kid, every repeated sniffle? Down to iso room.

Result = The "isolation" room will actually spread #COVID19.

5. "But Zack, surely teachers can discern btwn non-COVID coughs or sniffles & the real deal!"

Yeah. Our *one day* of health and safety training will definitely turn us into doctors.

Result = Kids w/out COVID will be sent to iso room w/kids who have it. Iso room spreads COVID.

5. "14 days after symptoms appear." "No clearance letter...is needed." Wtf.

So a who has been confirmed to have COVID can return based solely on parent/guardian judgement of their symptom onset. Remember that "no paid sick leave" issue?

Result = return still contagious.

6. "Wait...Zack...I want to go back a point. I think you're wrong about the isolation rooms. I heard that the government invested significant money for the hiring of nurses. Won't *they* staff the iso rooms?"

Read the quote.

7. "Students won't be penalized if they are absent."

True. But you know who will be? Their parent/guardian that didn't show up to work and that doesn't have paid sick leave or job security.

Result = children with runny noses, and maybe COVID, will be sent to school.

8. I'm cheating here, but I've got to rewind again. Read the quote. Now imagine the reality. A child is terrified & crying bc they have been brought to the COVID iso room. Do you really believe a school worker will stay a perfect 6ft away? Would you actually want them to do so???

9. I stand corrected on my "iso room" PPE point. Looks like necessary PPE will be offered. Cool. I'm sure the 1-day of training will cover proper use and disposal.

Oh...disposal.

Will the PPE get replaced every time a gets brought down? Every 4 times? Every 40 times? Ever?

9 (cont).

Wait. Sorry. One more question while we're here.

"...signs will indicate if a room is available and has been cleaned."

What if a kid gets brought down and it *isn't* available? What if it *hasn't* been cleaned?

Result = possible COVID exposure outside of iso room.

10. Ohhhhh boy. We started with lack of paid sick leave being the clear winner for "things that make clear the @Sflecce and @fordnation plan is a dumpster fire", but we may have a serious contender here.

10 (cont).

"After a positive case, Peel Public Health...may recommend closing a class, a section of a class, or the entire school."



So there is no definitive plan or protocol for positive COVID exposures in school.

Let that sink in.

10 (cont).

But what fresh hell is THIS?

"(M)ay recommend closing...a section of a class."

How do you close a "section of a class"???

Obviously they mean only tell a portion of students in a class to stay home due to exposure...which is equally mind boggling.

10 (cont).

Have any of the ppl wrking on this been in a school since Y2K?

Do they truly believe that in a rm of 30 , where 6ft has been impossible 2 maintain, that there's any1 who isn't a close contact?

Result = Kids who've been exposed 2 COVID won't b mandated 2 isolate.

11. “There will be a domino effect of absenteeism"?

No. There will be a domino effect of kids coming to with COVID.

Asymptomatic in rms of 30+.
Mildly symptomatic getting sent to school due to no paid sick leave and job security.

Result = this is getting old fast, no?

12. Translation: @Sflecce & @fordnation couldn't give a about "the people". The most vulnerable, and even much of the shrinking middle-class, won't be able to stay home for a mildly sick kid, and the PCs are offering no help.

"Figure it out, poors!" is basically their MO.

13. Response: Come to school sick and with COVID.

14. It would be nice, wouldn't it?

Too bad the @OntarioPCParty, with @fordnation at the helm, and @Sflecce on the selfie-stick, have refused to ethically fund a safer reopening or ethically lead for one either.

Write & call your MPP. Write & call Lecce and Ford.

Demand more.