The interim Lake County Public Health officer Dr. Gary Pace says the county has no plans to close schools despite the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases after holiday gatherings. He says the hope is that the surge will only last a month or so and that taking the proper precautions, including getting vaccinated and boostered and continuing personal protection behaviour should keep people safe. He said schools may have to adapt, depending on staffing shortages and numbers of infections reported. He said the health department’s aim is to keep students and staff as safe as possible.