In a statement posted on its website, the board says it was informed by Public Health Ontario (PHO) at an Aug. 18 meeting that it and all of its task forces will be disbanded effective Sept. 6. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve Ontario beginning in July 2020,” the statement said. “Many of us will remember our work for the Science Table as one of the most important jobs we’ve ever had the opportunity to do.” The group said its work reflects the dedication of hundreds of volunteer scientists, doctors and administrators. He added that the key principles that will help Ontario manage the ongoing risks of COVID-19 are that science matters, equity matters, transparency is critical, independence must be perceived and delivered, and that timeliness and relevance is essential. “The COVID-19 pandemic continues and is contributing to the growing number of crises in Ontario’s health care system,” the statement continued. The Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto supervised the team of independent scientists until April 4, when the PHO announced it would host the expert team on a permanent basis. At the time, the PHO said the team would develop new terms of reference to make it “sustainable over time” and able to scale up if necessary in the event of future public health emergencies.
PHO explores new advisory group
A statement on Friday from the PHO indicated it was considering forming a new panel, saying it had been engaged in discussions with representatives of the scientific panel in recent weeks about new terms of reference. “The new terms of reference establish a mandate that reflects a long-term, sustainable approach and ensures the continued provision of reliable and independent scientific and technical public health advice to the province on COVID-19 and future public health emergencies,” he wrote. “The membership will continue to consist of independent experts.” The scientific panel’s advice and guidance has at times during the pandemic run counter to government action. A particularly poignant moment came in February 2021, as the government prepared to ease public health restrictions during a temporary lull in new cases, just as variations of concern began to take hold in the province. During a press conference to present its latest modeling, the panel’s co-chair, Adalsteinn Brown, was asked by a reporter whether the panel of experts actually “predicted a disaster.” Brown answered in the affirmative. You can watch the entire exchange here:
The variants of concern will likely cause an increase in COVID-19 cases, Dr. Brown says
Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the province’s scientific advisory panel, says COVID-19 cases will likely increase with emerging strains of concern, responding to a question from TVO reporter John Michael McGrath about whether lifting restrictions across the province will turn out to be a “disaster”. Brown is the dean of Dalla Lana’s School of Public Health and has been involved in presentations during some of the most dire months of the pandemic. In August, Brown left the team to focus on his role at the University of Toronto. The government went ahead with its plan and what followed was the third wave, which at its peak saw around 900 people with COVID-19 admitted to ICUs and resulted in the reimposition of public health orders several weeks later.
Hopes for new team driven by ‘genuine scientific independence’
At its peak, the panel’s core members included more than 40 health professionals and scientists with a wide range of expertise. Dr Peter Jüni, the panel’s outspoken former science director and its most public spokesman throughout the pandemic, stepped down from the role in April to take a job at the University of Oxford in the UK. He was replaced by Dr. Fahad Razak, an internist at St. Michael’s in Toronto and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto. In his statement on Friday, Razak said he was “forever grateful” to those who volunteered their time to the table’s mission, “often working late into the night and under severe time pressures.” “I hope that the scientific advice we’ve provided to the public and decision makers has helped ease the pain,” he said. Razak added that he hoped any future advisory group would be guided by the principles of “genuine scientific independence” and transparency, a focus on equity and a commitment to advocating for individuals and communities disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
