Guelph and area students will not be returning to school until at least Feb. 1.
Public Health had initially set Jan. 25 as the earliest possible return-to-school date.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health announced late Wednesday afternoon that it was extending online-only learning for all schools in its coverage area, including all schools in the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board.
Students with special education needs who cannot be accommodated through remote learning continue to receive an exemption.
“I know everyone wants schools open for in-person learning as soon as it is safe,” said Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health and CEO of WDG Public Health in a release. “Teachers and parents are keenly aware of the value our children get from being able to gather together with their teachers and classmates and the pressure that remote learning places on educators and families. I share these sentiments.”
The situation will be evaluated an ongoing basis to determine when schools can be safely re-opened, the release said.
“Cases are declining in the region,” said Mercer. “We are doing the difficult work of bringing COVID back down to levels where we can safely reopen schools, but we are simply not there yet. I urge everyone in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph to keep up the work of reducing the spread of the virus."
The text of Dr. Mercer’s instructions can be viewed at https://www.wdgpublichealth.ca/your-health/covid-19-information-public/current-public-health-measures-and-restrictions.
