The Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy will close starting on Monday until Dec. 14 due to an outbreak of COVID-19,&nbsp;the Toronto District School Board says.

Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy, which&nbsp;has&nbsp;kindergarten classes along with a specialized literacy program, has had confirmed seven cases of COVID-19 in the last week and a half, according to Principal&nbsp;Catherine Ure.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has advised that all staff and students be dismissed from the school so it&nbsp;can continue its&nbsp;investigation into the outbreak, Ure said in notice to parents. The school will close Monday and will remain shuttered at least until Dec. 14, she said.

The board will provide more information once it has&nbsp;a firm date for students and staff to return, said Ure.

"I know this news will be concerning for our families and I want to thank you for you understanding during this difficult time. TPH has made a referral for school-wide testing and we will continue to provide any new information as soon as we receive it," she said.&nbsp;

Toronto Public Health to close Thorncliffe Park PS over COVID-19 outbreak

Toronto Public Health has opted to close the East York school just days after a testing blitz revealed 19 cases of the novel coronavirus among students and staff — a number which has gone up since then.

Thorncliffe Park Public School is offering parents the chance to choose whether or not they want their children to learn specific names of genatalia as a way of religiously accommodating them.

Thorncliffe Park Public School 

Thorncliffe Park Public School in East York will close for several days after an outbreak of COVID-19 that has spread to 26 students and staff members. 

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Rapid covid testing, Dalhousie Campus, Halifax, NS on Tuesday, 24 Nov 2020. See technician in hazmat clothing  performing nasal swab test.

Rapid Covid Testing

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Classes will shift&nbsp;to remote learning. In a news release, TPH says it has&nbsp;advised students and staff in the affected cohorts to go into isolation. All other staff and students have been told to monitor for symptoms and to get tested if they become ill.

2nd school to close in Thorncliffe Park following outbreak

The learning academy is the second school in Thorncliffe Park to close this week due to a COVID-19 outbreak.

TPH closed&nbsp;Thorncliffe Park Public School on Dec. 3,&nbsp;which is just minutes away from the learning academy, after a testing blitz resulted in 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The school runs from&nbsp;grades one to five.

The&nbsp;number of cases has since reached 26 after the school recently became the first in the city&nbsp;to participate in a voluntary asymptomatic testing pilot project.&nbsp;

Earlier on Dec. 3,&nbsp;before the closure was announced, three&nbsp;of the school's 30 staff members had refused to work, citing an unsafe work environment.&nbsp;

The Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood has now had two schools shut down due to COVID-19 this week. 

Early learning school in Thorncliffe Park closes for a week due to COVID-19 outbreak

2nd school to close in Thorncliffe Park following outbreak

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