CORNWALL – Despite increasing COVID-19 case counts in the Eastern Ontario Health Unit region after the Easter long weekend, students will return to in-person learning Tuesday, April 6th.nnThe provincial 28-day shutdown order that went into effect April 3rd did not include measures to move to online-only schooling for the four-day period between the Easter holiday and the rescheduled Spring Break.nnEOHU Medical Officer of Health Dr. Paul Roumeliotis said Monday afternoon that he is not issuing a blanket closure order for the region.n
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“I considered closing all schools with a Section 22 order,” Roumeliotis said. “But I do not have the data to support it.”
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He told The Leader that several schools are being closed in the United Counties of Prescott-Russell part of the EOHU region.n
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Several provincial health units, including Peel Public Health west of Toronto, announced today that students would switch to remote learning beginning Tuesday for the remainder of the week.
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Ontario’s public health units can close schools by issuing a Section 22 order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.n
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In the EOHU, Roumeliotis said that COVID-19 transmission rates in schools has been low.
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“For the record, most cases are contracted in the community or households, and not in schools,” he said adding that the EOHU is keeping a “close eye on it moving forward.”
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Ontario’s Ministry of Health reported April 5th there were 42 students and five staff across 26 schools in the EOHU who contracted COVID-19. Case counts in the region increased by 116 people over the Easter holiday weekend (April 1-4).
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Students will be off school next week (April 12-16) for their rescheduled March Break.
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