by The province is delaying in-person learning in schools for a week and extending current public health restrictions as it reports more hospitalizations and 842 new cases of COVID-19 today.
Students had been scheduled to go back to class on Monday but they’re now scheduled to start at-home learning on that day.
Schools will stay open for students who use learning centres and will reopen to in-person learning on January 17th.
Meanwhile, the province says it’s extending current public health restrictions to the end of the month.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang says the extension is meant to help stop the spread of the Omicron variant.
Of the new cases reported today, 498 are in the Central Zone, with 141 in the Eastern Zone, 121 in the Western Zone and 82 in the Northern Zone.
There are now 45 people in the province in hospital with COVID-19, including eight in intensive care.
Two new long-term care outbreaks were also announced today, including one involving a staff member and four residents at Waterford Heights in New Waterford.
Public health is working with the facility to prevent further spread.
The province also announced today it’s changing quarantine requirements for people who have COVID-19 starting on Friday.
For fully vaccinated people and kids 11 and younger, quarantining will be required for a minimum of seven days.
The requirement will be a minimum of 10 days for those who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised.