Since Sept we did every possible thing wrong in terms of school reopening, failing to follow #science or the experiences of other regions!
Instead of listening to ID & epi experts, the gov’t is seems to be following a select minority, some of whom are signatories of the GBD https://twitter.com/DrZoeHyde/status/1347521961325334530

we wasted our golden opportunity in the summer when cases were low, to plan for safe school reopening!
We made attendance mandatory but not
put our heads in the sound about #aerosoltransmission & the dire need to address ventilation in crowded classes!

we could have followed the example of Denmark & other places & use the closed public spaces like museums, libraries, community centres as makeshift teaching spaces in order to spread kids out

we failed to appreciate how helpful rapid antigen tests could be to test kids at specific intervals to detect & isolate cases! if we don’t systematically look for infections we’re not going to find them! Yet lack of proper data has been used to justify certain decisions

we failed to put in place resources where low-income & underprivileged families in communities with highest rates of transmission have equitable access to internet & tech in order to make distance learning possible when there’s a need for isolation!

We are sending kids back to school at a moment when hospitals & ICUs are reaching capacity, positivity rate in many regions is in double digits & many have illegally gathered over the holidays! We should have done a massive testing campaign before classes reopen!

Every transmission is chance someone high risk could end up in hospital/ICU or dead!

The CAQ has stated that keeping the schools open is their priority, yet time & time again they failed to take the simplest actions that would keep schools SAFELY open!