10.65% of Ontario public schools have a COVID-19 case, latest report shows
The number of new COVID-19 cases in public schools across Ontario has jumped by 72, to a total of 796 in the last two weeks.
In its latest data released Friday morning, the province reported 39 more students were infected for a total of 440 in the last two weeks; since school began there have been a total of 946.
The data shows there are six more staff members for a total of 95 in the last two weeks - and an overall total of 245.
The latest report also shows 27 more individuals who weren't identified for a total of 261 in that category - and an overall total of 507.
There are 514 schools with a reported case, which the province notes is about 10.65 per cent of the 4,828 public schools in Ontario.
Five schools are currently closed, according to the Ministry of Health figures.
There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data on Friday is current as of 2 p.m. Thursday. It also doesn't indicate where the place of transmission occurred.
The Toronto District School Board updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day on its website. As of 10:45 a.m Friday, there were 143 TDSB schools with at least one active case - 181 students and 45 staff.
The Toronto Catholic District School Board also updates its information on its website. As of Friday at 9:30 a.m., there were 81 schools with at least one active COVID-19 case, with 65 students and 16 staff infected.
Epidemiologists have told the Star that the rising numbers in the schools aren't a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID that is in the community. Ontario reported 826 new COVID-19 cases, the third highest since the start of the pandemic, on Friday - 292 new cases in Toronto, 186 in Peel, and 72 York Region.
Dr. Susy Hota, an epidemiologist with the University Health Network, told the Star this month that the school numbers are rising because it reflects the exponential increase in the community.
These are kids who are attending school," she said. It's not necessarily that these numbers are (from) school."
Ann Marie Elpa is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star's radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: aelpa@thestar.ca