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Back to SearchTORONTO, 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 those 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 of COVID-19 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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Media contact
media@cheo.on.ca
About 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.
About CHEO
Based in Canada’s capital, CHEO is a globally renowned health institution with a mission to provide exceptional care and support to children, youth and their families. Opening our doors in 1974, we offer a full range of specialized pediatric care and services to children from eastern and northern Ontario, western Quebec and Nunavut. Our site is home to a hospital, a children’s treatment centre, a school, a research institute, and is affiliated with the University of Ottawa as an academic health science centre. Named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024 and 2025, we are home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives.