toronto schools

Tracking coronavirus cases in schools across Toronto and the GTA

A look at the number of positive COVID-19 cases in both staff and students

by Nisean Lorde for Post City Posted: September 16, 2020 Photo: York Mills Collegiate Institute

As more Toronto students return to the classroom in a staggered start to the school year, there are growing concerns over COVID-19 infections in GTA schools.

As of Wednesday, Sept. 16, there have been a total of 41 positive cases of COVID-19 in Ontario schools.

This includes:

  • Six confirmed staff cases in Toronto (one at each of the following schools: Bloordale Middle School, Brookhaven Public School, Charles G Fraser Junior Public School, Don Mills Middle School, Earl Haig Secondary School, York Mills Collegiate Institute)
  • Two confirmed student cases in Mississauga (St. Joseph Secondary School, John Fraser Secondary School)
  • Two confirmed cases in Mississauga where the individuals weren’t identified (Ruth Thompson Middle School, The Valleys Senior Public School)
  • One confirmed staff case in Mississauga (Briarwood Public School)
  • Two confirmed staff cases in Oakville (St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic Elementary School, Oodeenawi Public School)
  • Two confirmed staff cases in Brampton (North Field Office, Ross Drive Public School)
  • One confirmed student case in Brampton (Louise Arbour Secondary School)
  • One confirmed staff case in Pickering (École Ronald-Marion)
  • One confirmed student case in Markham (Little Rouge Public School )

Elementary schools have a staggered start for students over the first three days of the school year (Sept. 15, 16, and 17). For most secondary schools, given the complexities of the staffing and timetable process, start dates are Sept. 15 and 17.

According to the TDSB, due to the large number of families who have selected virtual school (more than 72,000 students), they will require additional time to ensure a more consistent opening for all staff and students — these students will begin on Sept. 22, leaving some frustrated with the delayed start.

“As the numbers start to creep up, I guess we all start to worry more. I guess this is one of the reasons we saw a shift back to virtual. Maybe some parents were fearful and they want to wait and see where we are in a week or two and I get that,” TDSB Chair Alexander Brown said in a news conference on Tuesday. “As the numbers go up, this is where the province needs to step in and make sure that we can ensure that our schools remain safe.”

 

 

According to Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce, although the province has made significant gains that has enabled kids to get back to school, they have to find a way to continue to build momentum to flatten the curve.

 

 

The rise in COVID-19 school cases comes as Ontario reports a spike in new novel coronavirus infections in the province. As of Sept. 16, there were a total of 45,383 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ontario reported to date. Compared to the previous day, this represents:

  • An increase of 315 confirmed cases (77 in Toronto)
  • An increase of two deaths
  • An increase of 154 resolved cases

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