Dr. Kit Young Hoon, medical officer of health at the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU), said she has made recommendations to the chief medical officer of health that schools in NWHU catchment area can be reopened as early as this week if they felt it was appropriate.
Young Hoon said there are a number of aspects to think about such as the risk within the community, the number of active cases, and the incidence rate. She adds that they need to think about the public health measures that are in place at the school and whether those are effective in reducing transmission.
“For our catchment areas specifically, we’ve had very little, next to no transmission in our school settings of COVID-19,” Young Hoon said. “Overall, I think that supports that school can be reopened for NWHU.”
Young Hoon said at this point, teachers have been offered their first dose of the vaccine which provides approximately 60 to 80 per cent protection.
“If you combine that protection along with all the other public health measures that are implemented in schools, teachers can go back to school with only one dose of the vaccine,” Young Hoon said.
Young Hoon also adds that keeping school closed increases the risk of a number of negative health issues.
“It decreases physical activity, generally it seems to decrease nutrition for students, as well as it has some mental health effects in the sense of increased behaviors that can indicate anxiety or depression,” Young Hoon said.
There are currently 10 active cases in the region, one in the Atikokan health hub, seven in the Kenora health hub and two in the Sioux Lookout health hub.
Young Hoon said the low number of active cases is an indication that many people are following public health measures and it could also be linked to more people getting vaccinated, but Young Hoon adds that the NWHU vaccination rate is sitting at about 60 per cent which, is not high enough to prevent transmission in the community.
The NWHU began their youth and family walk-in clinics for anyone aged 12 and older on Sunday. The first one was held at the Sioux Lookout Rec. Centre. More information about the clinics is posted to the NWHU’s website.
