B117 Variant Rapidly Spreading in Canada, Leading to School Closures

In a swift response to a surge in COVID-19 cases, Toronto, the largest city in Canada, has suspended all in-person learning for two weeks as of April 6. This decision impacts over 300,000 students across elementary and secondary schools, including those in private institutions. The earliest they may resume classes is April 18.

The shutdown coincided with the reporting of 955 new COVID-19 cases in the city. Toronto Public Health (TPH) remarked that “The spread of COVID-19 has never been greater in Toronto, with variants of concern heightening both transmission risks and the potential for severe illness or death.”

Health Officials Attribute the Surge to Variants

Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, attributed the closure largely to the variants circulating throughout the country. The B.1.1.7 variant, initially discovered in the United Kingdom, has “likely supplanted the original virus in certain areas,” according to Dr. Robert Lee, Canada’s chief public health officer. He also reported a near doubling in cases of the P.1 variant, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario.

In a discussion with a local news outlet, Dr. Mitchell confirmed that the highly contagious nature of these variants significantly influenced the decision to close schools. “They spread faster, increasing the risk,” she stated. “We had no alternative but to take this action.”

A Move to Curb Community Transmission

The decision to close schools comes amid an escalating case count that is placing substantial strain on the healthcare system. Hospitalizations have risen by 4 percent compared to the previous week, with intensive care admissions surging by 18 percent. A larger segment of those requiring treatment are younger adults. Dr. Lee emphasized, “This serves as a reminder that COVID-19 can affect individuals of all ages, and severe illness can manifest at any age.”

TPH recognizes the importance of in-person learning, asserting that schools should ideally be the first to open and the last to close. Yet, they acknowledged that “current circumstances necessitate difficult local decisions to safeguard our school communities, including students, teachers, and staff.”

Similar Variant Issues in the U.S.

Dr. Emily Roberts, the Director of the CDC, confirmed that the B.1.1.7 variant is now responsible for the majority of new COVID-19 infections in the U.S., which could pose challenges for schools. Dr. John Smith, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research at a prominent university, initially supported in-person education, but the emergence of the B.1.1.7 variant has prompted him to reconsider.

Dr. Smith observed that previously, children under eighth grade were rarely infected or seriously ill, making them less of a concern for transmission. However, he noted that the B.1.1.7 variant has reversed that trend, making children key transmitters.

In Michigan, which has been severely affected by the pandemic, school outbreaks surged by 23 percent within a week and 47 percent over two weeks. Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail expressed her deep concern over the rising case numbers and hospitalizations. Despite the alarming statistics, Michigan schools have yet to implement shutdowns, unlike the November closures when case counts were lower.

In a smaller instance, a North Carolina elementary school transitioned temporarily to remote learning after over 100 students, or more than 19 percent of the student body, were required to quarantine.

The Influence of Vaccination Rates

While highlighting the alarming statistics from Michigan, Vail also expressed optimism as vaccination rates increase. Nearly one-third of the U.S. population has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, while Canada has lagged behind with only 12 percent vaccinated as of late March. Although children under 16 are not eligible for the vaccine yet, a higher adult vaccination rate can reduce community spread, offering some protection for unvaccinated children.

However, the pace of vaccination might not be rapid enough to prevent additional surges and school closures. With rising case numbers and a highly transmissible variant in circulation, U.S. schools could soon find themselves in a situation similar to that of Toronto. The coming days and weeks will be pivotal in determining the next steps. In the meantime, it’s crucial to continue masking, social distancing, and getting vaccinated as soon as eligible.

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Summary

As COVID-19 cases surge in Toronto, driven by the B.1.1.7 variant, schools have been closed for at least two weeks, affecting hundreds of thousands of students. Health officials are increasingly concerned about the impact of variants, which are leading to higher transmission rates and hospitalizations. Similar challenges are being faced in the U.S., with rising cases in schools prompting discussions about potential closures. Vaccination rates may offer some hope, but as the variants spread, the situation remains precarious.

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