Schools in Waterloo, Ottawa, and London have recently reported an increase in absenteeism among students and teachers.  Patrick Etmansky, president of the Ontario Association of English Catholic Teachers, said a school in Kitchener had 13 staff absences in a single day.
He says it is particularly worrying for students who may not have access to the help they usually receive at school.
“Children in special education do not receive the special support they need,” he said.
Two schools in London were forced to close on Friday and switch to online education due to staffing problems.  Thames Valley District School Board Director Jeff Pratt said at least 400 staff absences were reported during the day. 
“We can not link it directly to COVID-19, but it certainly is a part of these absences,” Pratt said.
This week alone, 36 schools in Ottawa reported that at least 20 percent of staff and students were absent, including reasons not related to COVID-19. 
The county continues to update daily absenteeism figures and the absenteeism rate has reached up to 30 percent in some schools.
Peter Juni, head of the Ontario Science Board, said this week the province is likely to see 100,000 to 120,000 a day, in stark contrast to the actual daily case report, which has ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 in recent days.
Juney says sewage collection data have been able to identify this high rate of contamination and about 5% of the county population probably has active COVID-19 cases.
Although health measures such as the use of face masks have been lifted across the country, health experts continue to advocate for precaution as the sixth wave is steadily rising.
“I think there will be a good time and place to remove the mask commands, it just is not now,” said infectious disease specialist Isaac Bogoch.
Canada’s top doctor has reminded Canadians to consider their choices as a way to reduce their risk of contracting the virus.
“Think about who you are with and maybe you are at greater risk – so having that interest in others,” said Dr. Theresa Tam, of which face masks are now a personal choice.


	Getting in touch 
	Have you had COVID-19 more than once in the last few months?  We want to hear from you.  Email [email protected]
	Include your name, location, and contact information if you would like to speak to a CTV News reporter.
	Your comments can be used in a CTVNews.ca story.
With archives from the Canadian Press and CTV News Toronto.