A vacant teachers desk is pictured at the front of a empty classroom is pictured at McGee Secondary school in Vancouver, B.C. Friday, Sept. 5, 2014. The Manitoba government says it is closing schools for three weeks because of COVID-19. Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says classes will be suspended starting Monday, March 23. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
March 13, 2020 - 1:05 PM
WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government says it is closing schools for three weeks because of COVID-19.
Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen says classes will be suspended starting March 23.
Schools will be open next week to give parents and teachers time to prepare, and the week of March 30 was spring break anyway.
He says the decision was made for the health and well-being of all Manitobans.
He says officials want to stay ahead of the virus that has caused a worldwide pandemic.
Manitoba is dealing with three cases of COVID-19, all of which appear to be travel-related.
Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version said schools will be closed Monday.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2020