DAN CEARNS The Standard
NORTH DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: With the COVID-19 situation continuing to develop, the Ontario government has extended the length of school closures in the province. The earliest students could return to elementary and secondary school classrooms is Monday, May 4th. Provincial officials made the announcement on Tuesday, March 31st. “We will do whatever it takes to keep students and staff safe from COVID-19,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said. The government will extend closures further to protect students. “The situation continues to change day by day, hour by hour. In order to protect our children, I’m prepared to extend these closures even further if we have to,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said at a press conference. “Every week, every day, every hour we can push back the surge on our hospitals is a week, day, hour of precious time to prepare. The more time we have, the more lives we can save.”