Tonight, the Grand Erie District School Board Trustees will receive two deputations concerning COVID-19, children, and policies in place for their protection from the virus.
The first deputation of the evening will be Rob Hunter.
We had spoken to Hunter a few weeks ago as he has seeked the opinion of Haldimand-Norfolk’s Acting Medical Officer Of Health when it comes to masking Kindergarten students.
Provincially, it is mandated that kids in grade 1 to 12 must wear masks in class but each school board can make their own policy when it comes to masking this grade.
Both our local board’s opted to join other school boards across the province by making it mandatory.
Hunter said he is concerned about children having to wear a mask all day and believes that this grade should not be mandated to wear one.
His previous story can be found here.
The next deputation will be by Dr. Martha Fulford, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at McMaster University.
She is also a hospital based physician providing acute care, including COVID patients, and explained that a majority of her clinical work is with pediatric patients.
Her deputations is meant to try to put COVID as it pertains to kids in perspective as she feels there has been an exaggerated perception of the risk to children that has led to very restrictive and very damaging policies.
In the data she is set to provide, she highlights that the virus seems to be less effective on children while restrictions in place – such as changes to sports and other activities – are having a damaging effect on kids.
The outlines of each of these deputations can be found on their agenda package here.
