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Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table

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Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, often referred to simply as the Ontario Science Table (OST), was a group of independent scientific experts that provided advice to the Government of Ontario about COVID-19.

It consisted of several specialized research initiatives in addition to the core table, sharing common members, brand imaging, and partner institutions. This extended network included the Evidence Synthesis Network (ESN), the COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Access Link (REAL), and the Modelling Consensus Table (MCT).

The group was initially hosted by the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, switching to Public Health Ontario in April 2022. The core table was dissolved as of September 6, 2022, transitioning to a new body called the Ontario Public Health Emergencies Science Advisory Committee (OPHESAC).

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table was formed in July 2020.

In August 2021, former Assistant Scientific Director Nathan Stall resigned from the table to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest due to his role as the Ontario Liberal Party candidate in the 2022 Ontario general election. David Fisman resigned later the same month, alleging that "grim" COVID-19 projections for the fall of 2021 were being withheld as a result of political pressure.

On March 17, 2022, the table released a report based on data modelling that warned that Ontario would see an increase in COVID-19 cases as a result of loosening of public health restrictions. The report indicated that protection from a third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine had plateaued for all age groups, particularly in marginalized communities, and recommended the continued wearing of masks.

On July 6, 2022, the table stated that Ontario had entered a seventh wave of COVID-19 infections, citing a test positivity rate of over 10% and increased signals from wastewater testing. In their recommendations for the fall 2022 school year, the table declined to make a recommendation on the use of face masks in class due to a lack of consensus among the co-authors of the publication. Instead of weighing in on mandating their use, the table supported an approach that allowed individuals to choose to wear a mask or not.

On August 3, 2022, infectious diseases specialist Upton Allen M.D. replaced Adalsteinn Brown as co-chair of the table.

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