Type of Intervention: Specific Action
Sectors Involved: Education
Intervention Categories: Social and physical distancing measures; Adapting or closing schools
Level of Jurisdiction: Ontario
Lead People/Agency: Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Health Christine Elliot, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce
Overview: Ontario Premier Ford and Ministers Elliot (Health) and Lecce (Education) issued a ministerial order to close all publicly-funded schools in Ontario for two weeks (March 14-April 5, 2020) in response to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. This order was approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and was based on the advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health and experts on the province’s COVID-19 Command Table. It intends to keep students and their families safe and is seen as a necessary precaution.
Full details here: https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2020/03/title.html?utm_source=ondemand&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=o
Type of Justification: Advice of INTERNAL government advisory committee or group, Perception of an increased threat
Source of Evidence or Justification: National – other, International – other, Sub-national, Chief Medical Officer of Health and Command Table
Evidence/Justification: This order was issued based on advice from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, and experts sitting on Ontario’s COVID-19 Command Table. The statement also cites COVID-19 developments both in the province, nation, and internationally as evidence to support this action.