I'm a naturally optimistic and positive person, but I need to express my frustration in the ways our governments have dropped the ball in returning our children safely to school. To create such a stringent illness protocol, and not anticipate the massive increase in testing required is unacceptable.

My kids have been back in school for 3 weeks. Week 1 we had to get a covid test (2 hour wait) and all 3 had to miss multiple days of school. Week 2 we needed another covid test for the same symptom (4 hour wait) and all 3 had to again miss school. This week I have a child home sick, and the soonest we can get a covid test is 10 days from now.

Add that to the 2 days before we get our results, and we might as well just skip it and choose to self-isolate for 14 days. The bright spot is that at least the other 2 can now be at school learning, as long as they remain asymptomatic.

We need home gargle tests as soleon as possib. The Grey Bruce Covid testing centre needs to be open from 7am to 11pm, and nurses should be able to administer tests. Our children (and working parents) deserve better than this.

Tessa Snider, Owen Sound