TORONTO – The COVID-19 race in Ontario schools seems to be unstoppable: with 227 new cases in the last twenty-four hours, the total number of infections since the beginning of the school year has risen to 9,111. And among the new infections reported stand out the 21 identified in the St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre elementary school located in Mississauga.

In addition to the 21 confirmed cases, according to Peel Public Health, there could probably be two more infections. The school was not closed but initially students from five classes were placed in isolation while now, said the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, only those of two still remain in quarantine. “The advice for those who have been contacted by Peel Public Health is to undergo the test – reads the letter sent to parents on December 3 by the director of the school Michelle McCann – Peel Public Health has informed us that for the rest of our school the risk remains low”.

McCann also reassured the parents of St. James’ students that there is no risk to the children attending classes. “Our school is open to children and staff and additional cleaning has been carried out. In addition, our rules of physical distancing, hand washing/sanitizing and masks, as well as self-screening, help prevent spread and reduce risk.”

A spokesperson for the school board confirmed to CP24 that all students were offered the opportunity to switch to distance learning until the Christmas holidays beginning on December 17. “From an operational point of view, most teachers are able to teach children in the classroom as well as those who wish to temporarily switch to hybrid or completely remote mode – said spokesman Bruce Campbell – in addition, staff are able to continue to efficiently supervise students who continue to attend in presence. Based on this, it is not necessary to close the school.”

According to the Ministry of Education, 884 publicly funded schools have at least one active case of COVID-19 and 13 are closed due to epidemics or other operational reasons.

In addition, York Region Public Health has closed two private religious schools in Vaughan due to outbreaks of the virus: at the Eitz Chaim School – Springfarm Branch and the Netivot HaTorah Day School and Child Care in Vaughan a total of 42 infections have been identified.

Infections linked to public schools today accounted for 24% of all active cases in the province.

In the rest of the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, there are now 1,119 active cases of COVID-19 linked to schools, up from less than 900 a week ago. At this point in the 2020 school year, 6,076 cases of COVID-19 had been detected in public schools.