While some Ontario students will be going back to the classroom Monday, it's virtual only for most in Simcoe County.
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced today the government will let students in seven public health units in the province return to school on Jan. 25. Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit was not one of the seven.
Included in the health unit jurisdiction is the Simcoe County District School Board and Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
However, students in neighbouring Grey Bruce (Bluewater District School Board and Bruce-Grey Catholic Distict School Board) will be allowed back in the classroom starting Monday.
"To ensure schools remain safe, the government is introducing additional measures including provincewide targeted asymptomatic testing, enhanced screening, mandatory masking for students in Grades 1-3 and outdoors where physical distancing cannot be maintained," read a statement from Lecce's office.
The other six health unit areas that will resume in-person learning on January 25 include:
- Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
- Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Health Unit
- Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Health Unit
- Leeds, Grenvile and Lanark District Health Unit
- Peterborough Public Health
- Renfrew County and District Health Unit
There's no word yet on when the remaining school boards will return to in-person learning.
