HALIFAX --
With the number of cases in schools growing, the province announced Monday afternoon that it is shutting down all public schools in Halifax Regional Municipality and surrounding areas.
"The virus is on the move in the Halifax Regional Municipality," Nova Scotia Premier Iain Rankin said during a new conference on Monday afternoon. "We have community spread and we need to do all we can to slow it down"
Schools will be closed as of Tuesday and students will begin at-home learning beginning Thursday for at least seven school days.
"The safety and well-being of everyone in our schools is our main concern. Every decision we make for our schools is out of an abundance of caution and in consultation with public health," Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development said in a news release. "Moving schools in HRM and surrounding areas to at-home learning is a necessary step at this important juncture. I know this will be difficult for some families, but Nova Scotians have shown time and time again that they'll step up in our fight against this virus."