Ontario's education minister announced more students will be returning to in-person classes on Monday, Feb. 1, but students in Collingwood and Simcoe County will have to continue with at-home virtual learning for the time being.
Those returning to school include all students in the Eastern Ontario, Middlesex-London, Southwestern, and Ottawa Public Health areas. Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit was not on the list.
In total, 280,000 students will be allowed to return to class on Feb. 1.
This Monday, Jan. 25, neighbouring students in Grey County were permitted to return to in-class learning, which includes Thornbury's Beaver Valley Community School.
According to a press release from the province, the Ontario government "agrees with the growing consensus in the medical community that returning students to in-person learning is essential to the wellbeing, development and mental health of children."
The press release also states the province's schools are safe places for learning.
For the areas where physical in-class learning is permitted, the province is also allowing before and after-school programs to resume.
There is emergency child care available for those on a list of eligible workers created by the government.
For the last announcement from Lecce regarding return to in-person learning on Jan. 24, click here.
For today's announcement, click here.
