COVID-19 outbreaks force closure of six more Toronto schools

Toronto Public Health has advised six more schools to close due to concerning COVID-19 transmission among students and staff.

Four public schools and two public Catholic schools temporarily dismissed staff and students on Wednesday.

Gateway Public School, Thorncliffe Park Public School, Clinton Street Junior Public School and the Ryerson Community School, including the Downtown Vocal Music Academy, from the Toronto District School Board temporarily shut their doors.

UPDATE: On advice of @TOPublicHealth, students & staff at Clinton Street JPS & Ryerson CS (incl. Downtown Vocal Music Academy) are being dismissed effective tomorrow, Wed., March 31 to allow TPH additional time to investigate COVID cases. Students will move to remote learning. pic.twitter.com/LarNaOk2BY

— Toronto District School Board (@tdsb) March 31, 2021

On advice of @TOPublicHealth, students & staff at Gateway PS & Thorncliffe Park PS are being dismissed effective tomorrow, Wednesday, March 31 to allow TPH additional time to investigate COVID cases at the schools. All students will be moving to remote learning during this time. pic.twitter.com/gpejFGD3pI

— Toronto District School Board (@tdsb) March 30, 2021

St. Rose of Lima and St. Jude Catholic school from the Toronto Catholic District School Board are also temporarily closing due to COVID-19 transmission.

Please be advised that as per TPH recommendation, St. Rose of Lima and St. Jude Catholic School will be temporarily dismissed as a result of an ongoing COVID-19 investigation. The school communities have been informed and we will provide updates once available.

— Toronto Catholic District School Board (@TCDSB) March 30, 2021

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Both school boards say affected students will be moved to online learning while Toronto Public Health investigates.

There were 332 new COVID-19 cases reported in all of Ontario’s schools Wednesday, according to the provincial government.

Six TDSB schools and seven TCDSB schools are currently closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Across Ontario, 63 schools remain closed due to the virus.

Ontario has seen more than 2,000 COVID-19 cases per day for a week straight now. On Wednesday 2,333 new infections were discovered, bringing Ontario’s total cumulative case count to 349,903.