York region school closes after declaring COVID-19 outbreak

A York Region District School Board public school has shut its doors after declaring an outbreak of COVID-19 due to several reported cases.

According to the YRDSB, Elder’s Mills P.S in Woodbridge closed on Monday, November 2 after reporting seven positive cases of the virus.

In their COVID-19 advisory page, the school board expects to reopen Elder’s Mills on November 11.

Despite the declared outbreak, the YRDSB told Daily Hive that this move is a result of “a challenge in finding replacement coverage teachers for those that are currently self-isolating on the advice of public health.”

“In order to provide continuity of learning while some teachers and educational assistants are having to self-isolate, the school closed to students and moved to virtual learning for students beginning November 2,” said a YRDSB spokesperson.

They did not specify how many of the cases involve students and staff.

The Government of Ontario reported 116 more coronavirus cases in schools on November 4, above 100 cases for the second day in a row.

According to the provincial government, 81 of the new cases are student-related, seven are staff-related, and 28 are unidentified, totalling 2,476 reported cases since September.