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= NEWS HERB GARBUTT hgarbutt@metroland.com Thursday, November 25, 2021 | Ontario will provide = take-home COVID-19 tests 2 gto studentsi in hopes of lim. ‘urns hristmas break. & The province will dis- 2 tribute 11 million rapid an- tigen test kits—five per student—to be used before returning school. le know we're head- ing into a Social Season where there will uch more interaction it 7 in- said Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario chief med- ical officer of health. ‘Knowing the increase in case counts we're seeing, we think it's prudent and reasonable to have those tests in the hands of fami- lies to be able to use to fur- ther protect them over the holiday season." Moore said it is hoped it the tests will provide early detection of cases be- fore students return to the classroom. Dr. Moore, Minister of Health Christine Elliott and Minister of Education Stephen Lecce helda brief- ing to talk about the prov- ince's plans for making COVID-19 tests more ac- cessible and the potential for vaccinations starting for children aged 5-11. jov. 18, approval of Pfizer's vaccine for chil- dren aged 5-11 by the feder- al government was pend- ing but expected as early as Nov. 19. Elliott said the province has been work- ing with its 34 public health units to come up with plans to administer the vaccine and some units, such as Toronto, have already unveiled their plans. Bach health unit mm itegy, ics and | Dhacnaties D vac- cinate children under the age of 12. "We want to get that first dose in before the hol- idays and a subsequent oRhat will help © ts achieve that extra percentage or two of population immuni- zation that is gong to sential to help slow this v “ rus see said high school students will return to reg- ular timetables with four courses per day beginning in the second term. Elliott also announced expanded testing to allow le experiencing symp- toms to get tested in select- ed pharmacies. "This enhanced cost strategy will help in: that every Ontarian,. ‘re. gardless of where they live, can access a test clos- er to home when you need it and get a test result as Herb Garbutt/YouTube screenshot Minister of Health Christine Elliott speaks about the province's plan to expand its testing to allow symptomatic people to get tested in pharmacies. Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore (left) and Education Minister Stephen Lecce (right) also spoke about vaccinations for Ontario residents aged 5 to 12. auickly as possible,” she aa response to ques- tions raised about allow- ing symptomatic people to visit pharmacies, Dr. Moore said, "We have over PROVINCE TO PROVIDE COVID-19 TEST KITS TO STUDENTS a year and a half experi- ence now in providing as- sessment and testing and we think wecandothisina very safe way." Pharmacies must optin to allow symptomatic test- ing and follow stringent infection and prevention control measures. Some will not be eligible if the physical layout of the macy means mea- sures cannot be met. He said the safeguards can include separate en- trances, a separate facility or space away from the ‘Testing is another key step to responding to po- tential outbreak and surg- es of COVID-19. As we pre- pare to head inside over the winter months, en- hancing our testing strate- gy is critical to protecting our hospital capacity and health care resources." BRAS GROUP Real Estate Team sales CHRISTINA BRAS JENNY BRAS Sales @rokeaty [A 200 www.brasgroup.ca 647. 200. 0261 GAT ABY. 7892 info @brasgroup.ca 11-30 VIA ROSEDALE WAY, BRAMPTON ON 1 BEDROOM, 1 BATH LOCATED IN PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY OF ROSEDALE VILLAGE - $500,000 20 SHORE BREEZE, DR. PH 02, TORONTO, ON 1,700,000.00 16 SHERWOOD CRES, BRAMPTON. $699,000 Thinking about selling? Now is the perfect time, the real estate market is hot! Let us take care of all your real estate needs Call us today!