Hamilton’s top doctor to decide next week whether to shift schools to online learning

Hamilton’s top doctor says school boards should prepare for a possible shift to remote learning after the break next week.

Dr. Elizabeth Richardson addressed the General Issues Committee meeting Wednesday morning, saying she was meeting with school board directors that afternoon.

“My advice to them is going to be that they prepare their students and their teachers as they go home at the end of this week for a possible pivot to online learning,” said Richardson.

Schools are on a break next week, from Apr. 12 – Apr. 16.

Under the new stay-at-home order, schools will remain open for in-person learning, however Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act gives local medical officers of health the authority to order school closures in their region.

This has been done in Toronto, Peel and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph.

Through February and March, 32 of Hamilton’s 120 schools have had at least one COVID-19 outbreak.

She says public health will decide next week whether to issue the order telling schools to switch to virtual learning.