Parents in the London area could be forgiven if they're starting to think that their kids will soon be learning from home.
As the number of new cases of COVID-19 continues to climb throughout Ontario, with a growing percentage of those cases being variants of concern, Premier Doug Ford mused about a possible lockdown on Wednesday.
Ford told reporters that an announcement about possible new COVID-19 restrictions will be made on Thursday.
“I'm very, very concerned to see the cases go up," he said. "I'm very concerned to see the ICU capacity and we all have to be vigilant.”
The potential for another lockdown and school closures was not lost on officials at the Thames Valley District School Board. It sent a letter to parents on Wednesday, telling them to make sure their kids bring home any personal items, learning materials, and technology when the school day ends on Thursday.
"At this time, students who were learning in-person will be returning to school on Tuesday, April 6, however, we want our students and families to be ready and supported in the case that the Ministry of Education and Ontario Public Health announces a shift to remote learning for all students," the letter said. "Our hope is that this allows students, staff and families to prepare for whatever scenario we may face in the coming days. This is not intended to create stress or speculation about what might occur; the reality is that if we have to shift to full remote learning following the break, we will be prepared."
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 97 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday. There are now 505 active cases in the community. Nine schools in London and Middlesex County have active cases, and according to a report in Postmedia newspapers, the number of new cases in schools hit a record number last week, when 1,147 cases were reported.
