Parents and early childhood educators advocating for PCR testing for children under five
Amid soaring infections, the provincial government has limited PCR testing for COVID-19 to high-risk individuals who are symptomatic or at risk of severe illness.
That group doesn’t include children under the age of five who can’t be vaccinated yet.
As a result, there are growing calls for the Ontario government to make PCR tests available to children – especially those in daycare settings.
“Our 16-month-old, symptomatic unvaccinated toddler, who’s in childcare was not a high enough priority to get a COVID test, so does she have COVID? We don’t know,” said Kate Graham, mother and Ontario Liberal Candidate in London North Centre.
Graham is one of many parents going through uncertainty with a sick child at home after her daughter had to be taken to the emergency room when she spiked a high fever.
“For me, I think this is something that her doctor should know, her childcare center should know, the provincial government should know, and I am her mom so I should get to know, so I am really, really upset,” said Graham.
Under the province's new rules, PCR tests are available only for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic or are at risk of severe illness.
Others with symptoms need to assume they have COVID-19 and isolate with their household contacts for at least five days if they're vaccinated or under the age of 12.
Graham says this isn’t enough and believes the government should reinstate testing immediately.
“I believe government has a responsibility to protect people, especially kids,” she said.
Kara Pihlak, chair of the Licensed Child Care Network’s (LCCN) advocacy subcommittee agrees.
“We don’t really know who has COVID because we can’t confirm it. We are just assuming people who are sick have COVID so I am definitely nervous with the cases going up, for our little ones as well, and our early childhood educators who’ve already been working hard these past few years with no recognition or support,” said Pihlak.
The Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario to Education sent a letter to Minister Steven Lecce, urging the government to make PCR testing available to everyone in childcare settings, and to reinstate COVID-19 reporting of daycare cases.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.