Toronto has closed schools due to spike in COVID-19 cases

Schools in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, to close distance education on Wednesday due to third wave of COVID-19 infections caused by more contagious variants of the virus.

Toronto Health Minister Dr. Eileen de Villa said in a statement tougher measures are needed to reverse the rebound.

“There has never been such a spread of COVID-19 in Toronto, with levels of concern increasing both the risk of contagion and of developing severe symptoms, and possibly death.De Villa said in a statement.

Ontario has seen more than 3,000 new cases a day in recent days, along with a record number of intensive care patients.

The move came after the neighboring region of Peel took similar action. The fences will be reassessed at the end of the month. Toronto is one of the largest school districts in North America.

Local health officials made the decision after the province refused to implement measures. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who previously said schools were safe, has been criticized by health officials for not doing enough to control the number of infections.

Ford refused to close shopping malls, but criticized the people who visit them.

“All over the world, countries are facing a very serious third wave of this pandemic. And now also in Canada. It’s not the news we wanted, but hospitalizations are on the rise. The beds in intensive care units are filling up, ”Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday.

Trudeau said he plans to talk to Ford “about what the increase in the number of cases means for hospitals and the importance of vaccinating as many people as possible, as quickly as possible ”.

With AP information

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