Premier Doug Ford says the government is keeping all schools in Ontario closed to in-person learning indefinitely following the current school break.
The government had previously maintained that schools would reopen next week but unions had called for schools to close in the absence of stronger safety measures.
“We are seeing a rapidly deteriorating situation with a record number of COVID cases and hospital admissions threatening to overwhelm our health care system,” said Premier Ford.
“As I have always said we will do whatever it takes to ensure everyone stays safe. By keeping kids home longer after spring break we will limit community transmission, take pressure off our hospitals and allow more time to roll out our COVID-19 vaccine plan.”
Ford argued that schools are safe but said the province must “do everything possible” to bring infections down during the “critical” next few weeks.