As the number of COVID-19 cases in Quebec schools continues to grow, Premier François Legault said Thursday the government is considering shutting down schools for a limited period of time to regain control of the situation.
The shutdown would probably come in the form of an extended holiday break, with schools being asked to close an extra two weeks and make up the lost time next summer.
Referring to the idea as a last resort only, Legault said the government has not made a final decision on the matter.
But whats clear, the premier said, is the virus is spreading through the school system: there are now more than 1,000 classes closed because of outbreaks, including 324 in the last two days alone.
The situation is deteriorating in our schools, Legault said. Children have already lost many days of school last spring, but we have to consider all of our options to break the wave.
Legault made the comments at a COVID-19 news conference Thursday as the province reported 1,365 new cases, an additional 42 deaths and 10 more people in hospital. It was the second day in a row more than 1,300 new infections were registered.
The premier said the situation in schools is “deteriorating,” noting more than 300 classes were forced to close because of COVID-19 outbreaks in the last two days alone.
