The number of new active cases in public schools across the province has jumped by another 24 per cent from the previous day to a total of 308.

, the province reported 64 more school-related cases — 37 more students were infected for a total of 164; seven more staff members for a total of 44; and 20 more individuals who weren’t identified for a total of 100.

There are 250 schools with an active case, which the province notes is 5.18 per cent of the 4,828 public schools.

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

More than 170 students and all staff at Mason Road Junior, near Bellamy Road and Eglinton Avenue East, have been ordered to stay home and isolate while the school is shut this week, Toronto Public Health said in a letter.

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. Ontario reported 554 additional cases overall across the province.

Tuesday’s numbers reflect reports from over the weekend and are accurate as of 2 p.m. Monday.

There is a lag between the daily provincial data at 10:30 a.m. 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.

The TDSB updates its information on current COVID-19 cases throughout the day . As of 9 a.m. Tuesday, there were 48 TDSB schools with a case — 36 students and 21 staff.

Zena Salem is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Star’s radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: