Update:
With COVID-19 cases rising across the province, the shutdown in Northern Ontario has been extended. Ontario has announced it will be in effect for at least another 14 days.
The provincial government has also announced that elementary students and secondary students in the seven Northern Ontario public health unit regions will proceed with returning to in-person learning on Monday. Meanwhile, online learning has been extended until Jan. 25 for all southern Ontario students.
Original story:
Ontario chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams is expected to hold a press conference at 3 p.m. today.
Premier Doug Ford said the province will make an announcement today on whether schools will reopen for many students next week.
All students are currently learning online as part of a provincial lockdown, but those in Northern Ontario and elementary students in southern Ontario are set to return to schools next week. National media are reporting that sources say Ontario students will not be returning to the classroom on Monday.
As things are right now, Northern Ontario is also supposed to exit the provincial lockdown on Saturday.
The press conference is expected to be streamed live, and we will carry the livestream feed, so stay tuned.
