All Southern Ontario Schools Will Remain Closed For Another 2 Weeks

It looks like most students won't be returning to school this Monday after all. 

In a press release on Thursday, it was announced that southern Ontario schools will remain closed until January 25. 

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While schools have been safe places for kids, the sharp rise in community transmission puts that progress and Ontario families at risk. Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education

Originally, southern Ontario students between kindergarten and grade eight were going to return to school on January 11. 

Now, all students in the 27 southern Ontario public health units will continue to learn online until the end of the lockdown, which is set to be lifted on January 23. 

However, seven northern Ontario public health units will still allow students to return to school on January 11. 

"With the public health trends where they are across the province, our priority remains keeping students, teachers, school staff, and all Ontarians safe," Ford stated. 

Doug Ford announced earlier on Thursday that one in five children under the age of 13 have tested positive for COVID-19. 

He also stressed that these numbers don't include, "all the other kids that haven't been tested, that might have a runny nose or a cough."