Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table
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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 The Government of Ontario () is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. The term ''Government of Ontario'' refers specifically to the executive—political Minister ...
about
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. 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 Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
at the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, switching to
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
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).


History

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 The Ontario Liberal Party (OLP; , PLO) is a political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. The party has been led by Bonnie Crombie since December 2023. The party espouses the principles of liberalism, with their rival the Progressive Co ...
candidate in the
2022 Ontario general election The 2022 Ontario general election was held on June 2, 2022, to elect Member of Provincial Parliament (Canada), Members of the Provincial Parliament to serve in the 43rd Parliament of Ontario. The governing Progressive Conservative Party of Ont ...
.
David Fisman David N. Fisman is a University of Toronto professor in the area of epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He also works as an infectious disease specialist and was a consultant at the University Health Network. Education Fism ...
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 The article contains the number of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reported by each country, territory, and subnational area to the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in WHO reports, tables, and spreadsheets. As of , cas ...
as a result of loosening of public health restrictions. The report indicated that protection from a third dose of a
COVID-19 vaccine A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID19). Knowledge about the structure and fun ...
had plateaued for all age groups, particularly in
marginalized Social exclusion or social marginalisation is the social disadvantage and relegation to the fringe of society. It is a term that has been used widely in Europe and was first used in France in the late 20th century. In the EU context, the Euro ...
communities, and recommended the continued wearing of
masks A mask is an object normally worn on the face, typically for protection, disguise, performance, or entertainment, and often employed for rituals and rites. Masks have been used since antiquity for both ceremonial and practical purposes, ...
. 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 infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...
specialist Upton Allen
M.D. A Doctor of Medicine (abbreviated MD, from the Latin ) is a medical degree, the meaning of which varies between different jurisdictions. In the United States, and some other countries, the ''MD'' denotes a professional degree of physician. This ge ...
replaced Adalsteinn Brown as co-chair of the table. At a meeting with
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
on August 18, it was announced that the table and its working groups were to be dissolved as of September 6, 2022. The table's online Indicator Roadmap dashboard was set for discontinuation on September 8. The
Government of Ontario The Government of Ontario () is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. The term ''Government of Ontario'' refers specifically to the executive—political Minister ...
stated that the work conducted by the table would continue under a new mandate, with terms of reference to be announced in early September. On September 1, Public Health Ontario announced the details of the new group and revealed its new name as the Ontario Public Health Emergencies Science Advisory Committee (OPHESAC). The new group was set to be led by fifteen core members, with the focus of their research determined by Public Health Ontario. Outgoing members of the table expressed opposition to
Kieran Moore Kieran Michael Moore is a Canadian physician and public servant who serves as the current chief medical officer of health of Ontario. Prior to his appointment, he served as the medical officer of health for Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addi ...
's September 1 announcement that the province would be dropping its mandatory isolation period for those testing positive for COVID-19, stating that they would have advised against the decision had they been consulted.


Organization

The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table (OST) was self-described as a group of non-partisan, independent, and volunteer scientific experts that provides advice to the Government of Ontario about the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. Participation on the table is on a volunteer basis, though members of the secretariat and the scientific director are paid by
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
and the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
.


Structure


Leadership

The group was initially hosted by the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
at the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, with funding support from Public Health Ontario. In April 2022, Public Health Ontario absorbed the table into their external advisory committee structure. The table was originally co-chaired by Adalsteinn Brown, Dean of the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
, and Brian Schwartz, vice-president of
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
. Brown was replaced in August 2022 by Upton Allen M.D. The original scientific director of the group was
Peter Jüni Peter Jüni is a Swiss physician, general internist, and epidemiologist based in England. He was previously both a member of, and the scientific director of, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, and also a director of a research cent ...
who indicated his term would end in March 2022. He remained a member of the Modelling Consensus Table and the Drugs & Biologics Working Group. On April 29, 2022, it was announced that Fahad Razak would take over as the Scientific Director. Razak had previously been serving as a member of the table.


Working groups

In addition to its core membership, the table consisted of four working groups: Behavioural Science, Congregate Care Setting, Drugs & Biologics Clinical Practice Guidelines, and Mental Health. Each working group was chaired by one or two leading members in their field, and were each supported by a secretariat.


Partnerships

The group collaborated with a number of other related organizations and tables, including Can-COVID, the Evidence Synthesis Network (ESN), the COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Access Link (REAL) and the in-house Modelling Consensus Table (MCT). A number of these organizations are extensions of the operations of the core OST, with near-identical brand imaging and sharing many members and partner institutions in common. Other arms-length partners include the Ontario COVID-19 Bioethics Table, which has worked closely with the table.


Modelling Consensus Table

The Ontario COVID-19 Modelling Consensus Table (MCT) is a joint initiative led by the
Fields Institute The Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences, commonly known simply as the Fields Institute, is an international centre for scientific research in mathematical sciences. It is an independent non-profit with strong ties to 20 Ontar ...
and the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
, supported by funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health,
Ontario Health Ontario Health (OH; ) is a Crown agency of the Government of Ontario. Described as a "''super agency''", Ontario Health oversees much of the administration of the Ontario healthcare system, with the stated goal of integrating services split bet ...
, and
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
. The MCT is chaired by
infectious diseases infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable dise ...
specialist David Earn, and employs
epidemiologist Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population, and application of this knowledge to prevent diseases. It is a cornerstone ...
John McLaughlin as executive director.


Evidence Synthesis Network

The Evidence Synthesis Network (ESN) is described as a "collaborative response initiative" developing synthesized research evidence to decision makers in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario The COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario was a viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Canada w ...
. ESN is co-chaired by Anne Hayes, Director of Ontario's Ministry of Health Research, Analysis and Evaluation Branch, and Rob Reid, Chief Scientist at
Trillium Health Partners Trillium Health Partners is a hospital system which serves Mississauga and western Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. It comprises the Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital, and Queensway Health Centre. Trillium Health Partners ...
' Institute for Better Health and Senior Vice President of Science, also at Trillium. Both scientists also serve as members of the table. Organizations collaborating with the ESN include the
Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health Canada's Drug Agency (CDA; ) is a pan-Canadian health organization responsible for coordinating and aligning drug policy across provinces and territories. The CDA provides Canada's various healthcare organizations with evidence-based advice, allo ...
(CADTH), the
University of Toronto The University of Toronto (UToronto or U of T) is a public university, public research university whose main campus is located on the grounds that surround Queen's Park (Toronto), Queen's Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded by ...
's Centre for Effective Practice (CEP), Cochrane Canada, the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
, Health Quality Ontario,
ICES ICES (formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences) is an independent, non-profit corporation that applies the study of health informatics for health services research and population-wide health outcomes research in Ontario ...
, Rapid-Improvement Support and Exchange (RISE) (an initiative of McMaster University Health Forum and
The Ottawa Hospital The Ottawa Hospital () is a hospital system in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The system was formed through the merger of the former Grace Hospital, Ottawa Riverside Hospital, Ottawa General Hospital and Ottawa Civic Hospital. The system is affiliate ...
),
Cancer Care Ontario Cancer Care Ontario was an agency of the provincial Government of Ontario that was responsible for improving cancer services. It was created by the government of Bob Rae Robert Keith Rae (born August 2, 1948) is a Canadian diplomat and for ...
, the
Ontario Hospital Association The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) is a member association that represents approximately 154 public hospitals in Ontario, Canada. History At the request of Dr. Fred W. Routley, then the Ontario Director of the Canadian Red Cross, a gr ...
(OHA), the
Ontario Medical Association The Ontario Medical Association (OMA) is a membership organization that represents the political, clinical and economic interests of Ontario physicians. Practising physicians, Residency (medicine), residents, and Medical school, medical students en ...
(OMA),
Public Health Ontario The Public Health Ontario, (), incorporated under the name Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion () is the Ontario Government agency responsible for providing scientific and technical advice to those working to promote and protect the ...
, the SPOR Evidence Alliance, the
Trillium Health Partners Trillium Health Partners is a hospital system which serves Mississauga and western Toronto in the Canadian province of Ontario. It comprises the Credit Valley Hospital, Mississauga Hospital, and Queensway Health Centre. Trillium Health Partners ...
Institute for Better Health and the
Government of Ontario The Government of Ontario () is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. The term ''Government of Ontario'' refers specifically to the executive—political Minister ...
.


COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Access Link

The COVID-19 Rapid Evidence Access Link (REAL) is a research project based at the
Dalla Lana School of Public Health Dalla Lana School of Public Health is the school of public health at the University of Toronto, located at the St. George campus in Downtown Toronto. It was founded in 1927, and was home for 50 years to Connaught Laboratories, a manufacturer of ...
. It features an online question-and-answer portal where researchers and the general public can seek high-level information on
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
. REAL also provides links to external resources from the
Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...
,
Government of Ontario The Government of Ontario () is the body responsible for the administration of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. The term ''Government of Ontario'' refers specifically to the executive—political Minister ...
,
City of Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
,
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, the
Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) is the regulatory college for dentists in the province of Ontario, Canada. The college was incorporated on March 4, 1868, when royal assent was granted to ''An Act Respecting Dentistry'' in ...
, the
Ontario Dental Association The Ontario Dental Association is the largest dental association in Canada, representing the dentist of the province of Ontario. It has over 11,000 members, and represents the interests of its members through a variety of initiatives. Including ...
,
Niagara Health System The Niagara Health System, or Niagara Health (NH), is a Canadian multi-site hospital amalgamation, comprising five sites serving over 450,000 residents across the 12 municipalities making up the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Canada. Niagara He ...
, the U.S.
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, the
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,
Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the medical school of Harvard University and is located in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area, Longwood Medical Area in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1782, HMS is the third oldest medical school in the Un ...
, Mental Health Research Canada, the U.K.
National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the term for the publicly funded health care, publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom: the National Health Service (England), NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care (Northern ...
,
Royal Life Saving Society Canada The Royal Life Saving Society Canada, commonly known as the Lifesaving Society or LSS, is a Canadian registered charity that works to prevent water-related injuries through various programs across Canada. The Lifesaving Society is an independent ...
and others.


Notable members

*
Pat Armstrong Pat Armstrong is a Canadian sociologist and Distinguished Research Professor at York University. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Armstrong has served as a chair for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in Health Services an ...
* Bill Cosby *
David Fisman David N. Fisman is a University of Toronto professor in the area of epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. He also works as an infectious disease specialist and was a consultant at the University Health Network. Education Fism ...
*
Peter Jüni Peter Jüni is a Swiss physician, general internist, and epidemiologist based in England. He was previously both a member of, and the scientific director of, the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, and also a director of a research cent ...
*
John Lavis John Norman Lavis (born June 11, 1965) is a Canadian physician based in Toronto, Ontario. He is a tenured professor in the Department of Health Evidence and Impact at McMaster University, where he founded and directs the McMaster Health Forum. He ...
* Allison McGeer *
Kwame McKenzie Kwame Julius McKenzie is a British-Canadian psychiatrist employed as the CEO of Wellesley Institute, a policy think tank based in Toronto, Ontario. McKenzie is a full professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. He has ...
*
Samira Mubareka Samira Mubareka (born 1972) is a Canadian microbiologist who is a clinical scientist at the Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Her research considers the influenza virus, viral transmission and aerobiology. During the COVID-19 ...
* Justin Presseau * Paula Rochon *
Laura Rosella Laura C. A. Rosella is a Canadian epidemiologist who is an associate professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health in the University of Toronto. She studies public health and the social determinants of health. Rosella holds a Canada Researc ...
* Beate Sander * Brian Schwartz * Chris Simpson * Robert Steiner * Ashleigh Tuite *
Tania Watts Tania H. Watts (born 1957) is a Canadian Immunologist, Professor at the University of Toronto, past President of the Canadian Society for Immunology and from 2009 to 2019 held the Sanofi Pasteur Chair in Human Immunology at the University of Tor ...
*
Jianhong Wu Jianhong Wu (吴建宏; born in 1964) is a Canadian applied mathematician and the founding director of the Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics at York University. He is also the inaugural Director of Y-EMERG Education Wu received his ...


See also

* Toronto Accessibility Task Force on COVID-19


References


External links


Official website
{{Authority control Organizations established for the COVID-19 pandemic Organizations based in Toronto
Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...
2020 establishments in Ontario Scientific organizations established in 2020 Organizations disestablished in 2022 2022 disestablishments in Ontario