Due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and following provincial guidelines, Hanover School Division (HSD) will be closing their schools from March 23 through April 10, 2020. Schools will remain open the week of March 16-20.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer and will apply to all public schools in the province. The COVID-19 situation is rapidly evolving. Provincial governments are moving quickly to contain and slow down the spread of the virus through preventive measures such as personal hygiene, social distancing and disinfection of spaces.
With HSD schools being open the week of March 16-20 and in an abundance of caution, HSD has immediately suspended all afterschool extra-curricular activities, public events, in-school parent conferences and facility rentals. School buildings will be closed at 4:30pm each day, with the exception of daycares. The suspensions will remain in effect until further notice. The Chief Medical Officer of Manitoba also advised schools to ensure ill staff and students stay home from school.
In addition to reducing large group and public activities in HSD facilities, additional cleaning procedures will be implemented in schools and on buses. Efforts will also be made to promote hand washing, increase desk distance between students and encourage social distancing where possible. School buses will continue to run as scheduled during the week of March 16-20. Parents and Guardians should be aware that scheduling and routes may change on short notice due to COVID-19 concerns or driver availability.
HSD notes they they will do their best to update local school communities regarding this evolving public health issue.
