Three more London-area schools are closing temporarily over concerns surrounding the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant.
The Thames Valley District School Board announced early Wednesday evening that Hickson Central Public School, White Oaks Public School and Woodland Heights Public School will be closed to in-person learning on Thursday and students will transition to virtual classes instead.
"Board administration has determined that recent suspected cases of COVID-19 in addition to previous cases, has proven to present operational challenges requiring the school to shift to virtual learning," a release from the TVDSB read.
With just two days left before classes let out for the winter break, the school board added it anticipates staff and students will return for in-person learning again after the break finishes on January 3, 2022.
Teachers will contact families with more information for virtual learning the board said. As of Wednesday, six TVDSB schools have temporarily closed due to Omicron variant difficulties.
As the number of new COVID-19 cases has started to surge across the province, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore has advised health units to treat all new cases as if they are Omicron. This means all close contacts of an infected person to self-isolate, even if they are fully vaccinated.
Also on Wednesday, eight other schools reported positive COVID-19 cases:
• Hickson Public School • Westfield Public School •Princess Elizabeth Public School • H.B. Beal Secondary School • Oliver Stephens Public School • College Avenue Secondary School • Woodland Heights Public School • Leathorne (TVDSB Facility Services) • Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute
More information about active COVID-19 cases within the Thames Valley can be found on the school board's website.