Ontario reports two more schools closed because of COVID-19; 56 more school-related cases with 32 among students

Two more schools in Ontario are currently closed because of a outbreak bringing the total to four, according to the Ministry of Health’s latest update Friday morning.

Both additional schools are in Ottawa: St. Jerome Catholic elementary school had two staff members test positive; and Franco-Cité Catholic high school where 15 individuals have tested positive since the school year began.

They join Ottawa’s Horizon-Jeunesse and St. Charles Catholic School near Dufferin Street and Lawrence Avenue West in North York in being closed.

The number of new COVID-19 cases in public schools across Ontario has jumped by 56, to a total of 628 in the last two weeks.

In its , the province reported 32 more students were infected for a total of 369 in the last two weeks; since school began there have been a total of 482.

The data shows there are nine more staff members for a total of 94 in the last two weeks — and an overall total of 149.

The latest report also shows 15 more individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 165 in that category — and an overall total of 245.

There are 429 schools with a reported case, which the province notes is about 8.9 per cent of the 4,828 public schools in Ontario.

The Toronto District School Board updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day . As of 10 p.m. Thursday, there were 110 TDSB schools with at least one active case — 124 students and 39 staff.

The Toronto Catholic District School Board also updates its information . As of 8:05 a.m. Friday, there were 37 schools with a COVID-19 case, with 41 students and 10 staff infected.

Epidemiologists 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 set another one-day record Friday, reporting 939 new COVID-19 cases — 336 new cases in Toronto, 150 in Peel and 126 in Ottawa.

Dr. Susy Hota, an epidemiologist with the University Health Network, told the Star earlier that the school numbers are rising because it reflects an exponential increase in the community.

“These are kids who are attending school,” she said this week. “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: