March 24, 2021 - Due to the ongoing number and rate of active cases of COVID-19 in Thunder Bay and the significant uncertainty related to Variants of Concern (VOC) and the third wave provincially, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janet DeMille, is directing schools in the City of Thunder Bay and surrounding areas to extend the suspension of in-person learning until April 12, 2021. This direction was communicated to the school boards through a Letter of Instruction, issued under regulations of the Reopening of Ontario Act, 2020.
“We monitor the data and continue to see elevated numbers of school-aged children with COVID-19 along with a high rate of COVID-19 overall. What happens in the community with COVID-19 impacts schools posing both a public health risk and operational challenges for schools when there are cases”, says Dr. DeMille, “We must all do our best to reduce the numbers we have in the community so we can reopen them, and businesses, safely.”
The impacted schools include elementary, senior elementary, and high schools of the following boards:
- Lakehead District School Board
- Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
- CSDC des Aurores Boreales – Thunder Bay schools
- Lac des Mille Lacs Education Centre
In-person instruction to students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning and who wish to attend in-person instruction may continue.
At this time, these instructions do not apply to school boards that are not listed above or are not located in city of Thunder Bay and surrounding areas. They also do not apply to child care (birth to 4 years of age).
Additional updates will be provided over the coming days by both TBDHU and the school boards. For further information about COVID-19 and schools, please refer to the TBDHU website: TBDHU.com/stopgerms and TBDHU.com/safereturn_parents.
For additional information about COVID-19 and the TBDHU area, please see the TBDHU Website.
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For more information - Health Unit Media: news@tbdhu.com.