TORONTO, Nov. 20, 2020 (National Child Day)– Ontario’s leading children’s health-care providers today issue a stern warning and express deep concern about the current trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. If the pandemic continues to spin out of control, schools will have to close which must not happen. Our children’s health and wellbeing is at stake.

Other parts of the world show evidence that as case counts rise, children pay a big price – most significantly through the closure of schools and daycares, as well as through delays in health care caused by added pressure to the health care system. This is magnified further for marginalized and vulnerable children and families, for example those with a disability, those who are racialized, those without a place to call home or who have an unsafe home.

The new COVID-19 modelling data from the federal and provincial governments, released today and last week, respectively, puts children and youth at risk. Although children are far less likely to be infected by COVID-19, they are profoundly affected.

On behalf of the children, youth and families we serve, and on National Child Day, we are asking all levels of government and all Ontarians to do their part to stop the spread and prioritize the health and wellbeing of children. Let’s do everything in our power to ensure the doors of schools and daycares do not close.

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About the Children's Health Coalition: The Children's Health Coalition is a growing collective of children's health organizations, including SickKids, CHEO, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, McMaster Children's Hospital, Children's Mental Health Ontario, Empowered Kids Ontario.