Uptake low for asymptomatic testing at Hamilton schools
Less than three per cent of eligible students and staff at Hamilton schools have volunteered for asymptomatic COVID-19 testing.
At the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, about 2.8 per cent of eligible staff and students have participated in asymptomatic testing clinics at schools across the city. At the Catholic board, that number is slightly higher at just under three per cent.
It is important to note that these clinics are voluntary," Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly said in an email to The Spectator. Participation compared to total school population continues to be lower than we hoped."
Testing is being offered to asymptomatic students and staff on a voluntary basis as part of a provincial mandate that boards offer tests in five per cent of their schools - and at least two per cent of their students - each week.
The Ministry of Education says participation rates for the province are not available.
Since the program began in February, Hamilton school boards have conducted approximately 2,300 tests - approximately 1,462 at the public board and 832 at the Catholic board. Eleven positive cases - nine public and two Catholic - have been found.
Fewer than 100 students and staff participated in Feb. 13 pilot clinics at Orchard Park Secondary School in Stoney Creek and Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School in Hannon during a snowy long weekend.
Since then, boards have worked to improve participation by offering testing on weekdays and giving more lead time before clinics.
Feedback has been positive and numbers continue to grow," Daly said.
In an email to The Spectator, HWDSB spokesperson Shawn McKillop said the average uptake so far is consistent."
To date, the board has hosted eight clinics for hub" high schools and feeder elementary schools, as well as a two-day clinic for isolating cohorts at Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School, which closed for about two weeks amid a variant-linked outbreak.
McKillop said the clinics at Dr. Davey had the highest participation rates.
As of April 10, the Catholic board had hosted 11 clinics, including those at schools in outbreak.
Over the April break, boards hosted clinics at Nora Frances Henderson Secondary School, Cathedral High School in central Hamilton and St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School in Stoney Creek. A clinic will also be held on Saturday at Bishop Ryan.
Assessment centres and pharmacies currently offering testing also offered asymptomatic testing to students and educators during the break.
In an email to The Spectator, spokesperson James Berry said public health provides epidemiological data to support site selection, and provides case management for any COVID-19 positive cases identified through the testing."
Targeted asymptomatic testing is an added tool to help protect Hamilton's school communities," he said.
The province says asymptomatic testing will continue to be available throughout the period of remote learning.
The ministry is continuing to support school boards in offering mobile testing opportunities to school communities throughout the remote learning period," Caitlin Clark, spokesperson for Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in an email to The Spectator.
Students and staff at school-based child-care centres will also be eligible for testing.
Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Her work is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com