Ontario moves schools to online learning, bans indoor dining and issues new COVID capacity restrictions
Global News
The Ontario government has issued several new public health measures that includes moving schools online, closures and capacity limits for businesses due to the Omicron variant.
The Ontario government has issued several new COVID-19 public health measures that includes moving schools online, closures and capacity limits for businesses as the province struggles to contain the spread of Omicron.
Students and staff will not be returning to in-person learning this week. Schools will switch to remote learning starting on Wednesday for at least two weeks.
“All publicly funded and private schools will move to remote learning starting January 5 until at least January 17, subject to public health trends and operational considerations,” the government said.
However, school buildings will be open for child-care operations, including emergency child care and for in-person instruction for students with special needs who cannot learn remotely.
The move comes as Ontario’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Kieran Moore just days before, on Thursday, said students would return to the classroom after the holiday break. He gave a two-day extension so that schools and parents could prepare.
But as of Monday, Premier Doug Ford said students will not be in class and will begin 2022 learning virtually.
Ford made the announcement alongside Moore, Health Minister Christine Elliott, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenflavy and CEO of Ontario Health Matt Anderson.
Ford also issued several new measures and capacity limits for Ontario businesses, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 5 at 12:01 a.m. These measures will be in place for at least 21 days (until Jan. 26):
