152 Ontario schools report COVID-19 cases as in-class learning reopens
In Ontario, 152 schools are currently reporting a COVID-19 case, as in-class learning reopens in the province.
According to provincial data, in the last two weeks, there have been 230 reported school-related COVID-19 cases, of which 198 are students.
Four schools have officially closed.
There are 36 schools in Ottawa reporting cases, and 11 schools in Toronto.
On February 16, schools reopened for in-person learning in Toronto, Peel, and York regions— the final regions in the province to reopen.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce said that enhanced safety supports would be provided to the schools, such as mandating Grades 1 to 3 to wear masks, targeted asymptomatic testing, stricter screening protocols, and hiring more teachers.
Reducing cohort classroom size to 15 students has still not been mandated.
Last week, Leece announced that March break would be postponed until the week of April 12 to limit community transmission of COVID-19.
He noted that with the COVID-19 variants, the goal is to ensure that spread of the virus does not take place by reducing travel, which often takes place during the break.
Since schools reopened in September 2020, there have been a total of 7,612 reported COVID-19 cases.
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