Lambton's medical officer of health feels more explanation is needed from the provincial government on its piecemeal approach to school reopenings.
Dr. Sudit Ranade told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Thursday morning he questions why a regional approach is being taken when the latest lockdown is provincial in scope.
"Places around us and near us, I think, are pretty much all closed, so we don't have that border problem," said Ranade. "Places that are going to have a border problem, that might be a really hard thing to sell. Do you really think the risk is so materially different when you cross a line? We're saying over here schools can open, and over here they can't be. I think that there needs to be a stronger conversation around what the risks really are and what risks we as a society are prepared to accept."
It was announced late Wednesday afternoon that in-person learning will resume Monday in just seven jurisdictions, not including Sarnia-Lambton. The province admitted that some school boards span across multiple public health units which means some schools may resume in-person learning January 25 while others continue to teach remotely.
Dr. Ranade also said he's not aware of the criteria the province used.
"To be very honest with you, I really don't know what the criteria are that they're using. It's probably something close to what we look at in general at the population level, like how many cases there are, whether they're rising or falling, the percent positivity on tests and things like that. But, I have not seen any sort of documented threshold that they're using to make that decision," he said.
No date was specified in the province's announcement as to when it's hoped schools in Lambton-Kent might reopen.
-With files from Sue Storr