During early-2021 Ontario's Pediatric Hospitals issued a report urging the return to in-class learning for children as soon as possible. Ontario closed its schools to slow the spread of corona virus, as increased infection rates can result in more hospitalizations and deaths in the general population. Quotes from the article are presented in bold type below.

The article stated:

An updated school guidance document, led by Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children and released on Thursday, said delays to in-person learning "must be as time-limited as possible" given the harmful social, developmental and academic impacts on children.

The costs indicated above refer to the development of both cognitive skills via in-class learning, which are associated with better health and higher earnings as adults, as well as non-cognitive skills, which have been shown to be associated with success in the labour market as an adult as well as the reduction in risky behaviors as teenagers and youths, i.e., those aged 15 to 24 (e.g., alcohol abuse, smoking, drug abuse) as well as some of the more immediate consequences, for children such as mental health.

Indicate whether the following are costs or benefits and whether they are direct/primary or secondary effects.

An increase in drug use by teenagers.

A decrease in productivity in the future for adults who as children were exposed to online schooling.

A decrease in mental health for children effected by the school closures.

A decrease in hospitalizations during the pandemic.

A decrease in mortality from COVID-19 during the pandemic.