This document constitutes a return to school direction issued by the Ministry of Education and approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the purposes of regulations made under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to covid 19) Act, 2020.
For the 2021-22 school year, the Ministry of Education will continue to focus on supporting the health, safety and well-being of students, families and staff. Based on advice from the Chief Medical Officer of Health, schools are permitted to open for in-person learning with health and safety measures in place for the 2021-22 school year.
The government will monitor the covid 19 situation, including ongoing risks related to variants of concern (VOCs), and alignment with broader provincial guidance and direction. The ministry will continue to work with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and local public health units (PHUs) to assess key measures to inform and update provincial guidance and direction, including lifting measures when appropriate. Local public health units may require additional or enhanced health and safety measures based on local experience and data. Medical officers of health in local public health units also have statutory powers under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, which they may use to address outbreaks or risks of covid 19 transmission in schools.
Read Ontario’s guidance for schools, school boards and school authorities to operate during the 2021-2022 school year: https://www.ontario.ca/document/covid-19-health-safety-and-operational-guidance-schools-2021-2022/introduction
