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“Now is the time for additional action,” she said.

Maintenance and administration would continue, and staff will be expected in schools to plan potential alternatives, but all classes from kindergartens to universities will be cancelled. Some small day home child-care providers would be exempt because of their size, however.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said that the move is unprecedented in the province, but necessary to keep students and communities safe.

“Students are expected to stay home. We are all in this together and everyone agrees this is the right decision,” said LaGrange.

All students will get final marks and progress from one grade to another and eligible Grade 12 students will still graduate, she said. Provincial assessment tests will be cancelled but essential diploma exams will continue.

“I know these are challenging times for everyone,” said LaGrange, who said she would provide more details in the near future.

New cases ‘concerning’

Until now all cases had been travel-related or from close contact with travellers.

Two people among the new cases are receiving hospital treatment and are in stable condition, while the remaining 15 cases are self-isolating alone.

“Health officials have taken swift action to isolate these individuals and any close contacts who might have been at risk, however, there are several concerning elements about these new cases,” said Hinshaw.

Hinshaw said two of the new cases appear to have come from an unknown source and likely involved community transition — meaning they were spread inside the province, not from someone coming to the province from elsewhere.