Ford government won't close schools, working on COVID-19 plan ahead of holidays

680News.com
November 17, 2020

With soaring COVID-19 numbers, many parents are wondering if the province will end up closing schools again like it did in March.

Doug Ford isn’t ready to do it again.

Speaking on Monday, Ontario’s premier said Education Minister, Stephen Lecce, will be providing an update on what school boards across the province can expect come Dec.

“That is the last resort, to shut down schools,” Ford said.

“I know that parents enjoy that their kids are going to school. The kids enjoy it. I want to give a shoutout, teachers are doing an incredible job and the leadership within the schools. I just think the world of the principals and vice principals, the schools boards, too. Everyone is doing a great job.”

There have been several COVID-19 outbreaks reported at some of Ontario’s schools, the latest coming out of Lester B. Pearson Collegiate in Toronto with 13 students testing positive.

The Toronto District School Board could not be reached for comment.

Just under a month ago, the province released data showing that since Aug. 1, the biggest source of infection and transmission in Toronto has been through its schools. At the time, modelling suggested that 22 per cent of new COVID-19 cases since Aug. 1 were out of the City’s many schools and daycares.

In Oct., the Ford government announced over $30-million in funding designed to hire additional staff and improve remote learning in COVID-19 hotspots, such as Toronto, Peel and York Regions, and Ottawa.

On Monday, the province confirmed 106 new COVID-19 cases across its many school boards.