Thunder Bay – COVID-19 Update – With the improvement in number and rate of COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, the Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Janet DeMille, is not extending the suspension of in-person learning that school boards in Thunder Bay and surrounding communities were directed to implement through her letter of instruction issued under regulations of the Reopening Ontario Act.
“In-person learning is vital to the overall health and wellbeing of students and I recognize that suspending this has imposed additional challenges for students and families” says Dr. Janet DeMille, “While this was necessary given the impact that community cases were having on schools, it is important that this resume, of course, with all appropriate prevention measures in place to ensure the ongoing safety of students and staff in these challenging times.”
In addition, Dr. DeMille strongly recommends that all individuals, families, workplaces and organizations adhere to all public health measures in order to control COVID-19 in the Thunder Bay District. This is particularly important at this time given the rise in cases, driven by the variants of concern (VOCs), seen in many other areas in Ontario and in Canada.
The suspension applied to all elementary, senior elementary and high schools of the following school boards:
- Lakehead District School Board
- Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
- CSDC des Aurores Boreales – Thunder Bay schools
- Lac des Mille Lacs Education Centre
Child care programs for school aged children within school board facilities can also re-open with safety measures in place, including for the Spring Break week. TBDHU continues to closely monitor the situation both locally and provincially.
