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Ontario closes schools for two weeks following March break

Ontario is closing all of its schools for two weeks following their March break, which starts at the end of the day Friday.

The decision comes after two people under 18 were diagnosed with COVID-19 over the past couple of days. Health officials say one of the patients is quite young.

Ontario’s chief medical officer, Dr. David Williams, said there isn’t much information on how the virus impacts children, but the latest cases show that children can develop the disease.

“While I don’t believe there’s much illness, it does give the potential of bringing back infection and introducing it into various settings, including schools and daycares,” Williams said.

On Williams’ recommendation, Ontario’s education minister said the decision was made to close the schools for two extra weeks following the March break. After that, the government will reevaluate the situation and determine what further actions should be taken.

Meanwhile, opposition politicians in Ontario are criticizing the government for not appearing to have a concrete plan in place to deal with the coronavirus.

WBFO’s comprehensive news coverage extends into Southern Ontario and Dan Karpenchuk is the station’s voice from the north. The award-winning reporter covers binational issues, including economic trends, the environment, tourism and transportation.