Barrie school, church proactively close amid rising COVID-19 infections
A private academy and church in Barrie are closed after more than two dozen confirmed COVID-19 cases.
Pastor Brett Pennell said the Church proactively decided to close the Heritage Christian Academy and Heritage Baptist Church once cases were confirmed last week.
"As soon as we got word of any cases, we moved the school to online," Pennell said. "We sent everybody home that day, just immediately switched to online learning to try to limit spread as much as possible."
Despite the church not being in an outbreak, services also moved online because the two facilities are in close proximity, and Pennell said there is the possibility of cross-contamination, as many with the school are also members of the congregation.
Pennell, the church's senior pastor and school principal, said the health unit never instructed the facilities to close, but he said they took the extreme measure to ensure everyone's safety.
"We made these determinations ourselves for the best interests for the health and wellbeing of the church community," he added.
The school student population is roughly 110, and the health unit reports 25 individuals have now contracted COVID-19.
The pastor noted they are working closely with the health unit.
On Friday, the Simcoe Muskoka health unit reported 32 active COVID-19 outbreaks across the region, including 23 in schools.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.