Thread by @CityCynthia

Premier Doug Ford begins his daily news conference.Says medical experts say next two weeks are absolutely critical in Ontario, which is why extended state of emergency by two weeks, and effective immediately all public schools are closed to students until at least May 4th #covid1

Premier Ford stresses he will keep schools closed longer if he has to. #onpoli #covid19

Ontario's child care centres will also be closed for the next two weeks (at least) #covid19 #onpoli

"Our aim is to provide some sort of stability" Education Minister Stephen Lecce as he announces details on teacher led e-learning. There will be a new set of expectations. #covid19 #onpoli

NEW: the new learning material WILL be graded #onpoli #COVID19

Education Minister says there will be additional supports for parents of special needs children and computers are being made available for students who don't have access to one (there are about 100-thousand) #covid19

Psychologists will also be made available to students.
Education Minister says will still try to salvage the remainder of the school year "only if it is safe." #onpoli #COVID19

Education Minister says to grade 12 students "we have your back" adds there will be no barriers for them to graduate. #onpoli #covid19

DETAILS: K to Gr3 - 5 hours of work a week
GR 4 to 6 - 5 hours of work a week
GR 7, 8 - 10 hours of work a week
GR 9 to 12- 3 hours of work per course for semestered students, 1.5 hours per course a wk for non semestered #COVID19 #onpoli

"It's just not their fault that they are home...I want to protect those people..I'm not comfortable with laying provincial employees off, I just can't do it, I can't." Premier Ford when asked if education workers could be laid off #covid19 #onpoli

"I appreciate this year is imperfect," the Education Minister says, adds next year will be very important for learning. #covid19 #onpoli