Ontario reports another 30 per cent jump in active COVID-19 cases at schools, including 21 more students

The number of new active cases in publicly funded schools across the province has jumped by another 30 per cent from the previous day to a total of 180.

, the province reported 42 more school-related cases — 21 more students were infected for a total of 77; five more staff members for a total of 38 and 16 more individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 65.

There are 153 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 3.17 per cent of the 4,828 publicly funded schools.

Two schools are closed — Monsignor Paul Baxter elementary school in Ottawa and .

Premier Doug Ford told reporters Wednesday that he “wouldn’t hesitate” to shut down all the schools again if needed like he did back in March, pointing out that he was the first in Canada to do so.

Ford said “everything is on the table” but the system is working.

There is a lag between the provincial data and news reports about infections in schools. The provincial data is current as of 2 p.m. the previous work day, and doesn’t indicate where the place of transmission occurred.

For instance, the Toronto District School Board that a student at Harbord Collegiate Institute has tested positive but that case isn’t reflected in the latest provincial numbers.

Epidemiologists have that the numbers in the schools aren’t a surprise, and that the cases will be proportionate to the amount of COVID that’s in the community.

The province overall on Wednesday. Locally, there were 102 new cases in Toronto with 79 in Peel and 65 in Ottawa.

Dr. Ashleigh Tuite, an epidemiologist with the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health, told the Star on Wednesday that the number of cases in schools were expected. The challenge now, she said, is with the because of long lines at testing centres.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty and anxiety right now because if your child has symptoms you can’t go to school,” Tuite said.

“You also know if you want to get them tested, there’s a chance you’re going to be waiting in line for a long period of time or you might not even be able to get tested on the day that you need to.

Despite the long delays for testing, Tuite urged parents not to send their kids to school if they do have symptoms.

“This is a bumpy start to the school year (but) parents and kids need to be patient as much as possible and adhere to the public health recommendations,” Tuite said.

Ontario’s current school COVID-19 screening checklist includes: fever, chills, cough that’s new and worsening, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, congested nose, headache, pink eyes, digestive issues, fatigue and sluggishness.

The TDSB updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day .

“Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 who was contagious while at school will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure,” the website says.

Positive cases at private schools aren’t included in the daily provincial numbers. On Monday, two students at the York School tested positive for COVID-19 as well as a faculty member at Branksome Hall, .

With files from Breanna Xavier-Carter

Libaan Osman is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Reach him via email: