Stay-at-home orders have been extended this week for almost all public health regions in Ontario, meaning that current lockdown restrictions will remain in place until public health officials say otherwise.

Once the order is lifted in any given region, that region will exit the ongoing provincewide shutdown and re-enter Ontario's colour-coded COVID-19 response framework system.

Three public health units are scheduled to transition this week, according to the provincial government; Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Renfrew County and District Health Unit will enter framework's "Green-Prevent" level on Wednesday.

All remaining public regions save for Toronto, Peel and York will enter the framework next Tuesday, on February 16. 

Toronto, Peel and York are the last three regions slated to exit shutdown mode on Monday, February 22 — and that's only if ICU numbers and transmission rates remain stable.

What we know for certain is that, for at least two more weeks, Canada's largest city will remain under the same lockdown rules that have been in place since December 26.

Schools in all three hot spot regions, however, are scheduled to reopen for in-person learning on February 16, a full week earlier than the earliest potential date for stay-at-home orders to be lifted.

What's up with that?

Many people in Ontario have been asking questions to this effect on Twitter since Premier Doug Ford announced the beginning of his government's phased economic reopening plan on Monday.

#StayAtHome order in #Ontario is extended to Feb 22, but ALL schools open on Feb 16.

How do I "stay at home" when I need to physically go to my unventilated school for 6 hours with 180-220 kids?#onted #onpoli #COVID19 #COVID19Ontario #FireLecce pic.twitter.com/jvskbkmbeg

— 🅇🄻🄱 (@ohayoodesu) February 8, 2021

Residents of hot spot regions are confused about why schools are being allowed to reopen when, say, retail stores, offices, gyms and salons must all remain closed for at least two more weeks.

Ontario really said: let the kids go back to school after the long weekend but we’ll extend the lockdown because the numbers haven’t gone down enough. Yes, kids get covid. Yes, kids spread covid in school. No, kids don’t care about social distancing... they care about having fun.

— Real_LFC_Fan (@Real_LFC_Fan) February 9, 2021

Some are suggesting that perhaps the province should allow schools to operate a little bit longer before deciding to reopen the wider economy.

Elementary and high schools only returned to in-person learning yesterday in several large Ontario cities, after all, including Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo, Guelph, Chatham and Windsor.

Ontario gets like 8 hours of back to school and decides its ready to open everything all at once. NBD.

idiots.

— Shaeleigh Beaudry (@Thatgirlshaeb) February 8, 2021

Others worry that reopening schools will lead to a spike in transmissions...

@Fordnation I agree. Re-opening schools and general re-opening should wait until the threat is over. If you open schools Covid numbers will spike again. Try to see the reasoning. Stop the Spread. Keep Ontario CLOSED.

— Sue Hutchinson (@rangerwyld) February 8, 2021

... or that opening schools and and businesses around the same time will make it hard to determine the root cause of any transmission spikes, should they occur.

Effie the people of Ontario are confused. We’re supposed to stay home but businesses need to be open so we can go out and shop? We’re opening everything at the same time as schools so we won’t be able to tell which of these causes the 3rd wave? Your leader called a presser to>

— AndreaMarie (@MsAndreaMarie_) February 8, 2021

Of course, some people feel that neither schools nor businesses should reopen until case numbers go down.

Dear @CPHO_Canada maybe it is a good idea to not end the Ontario lock-down prematurely then. And not send kids to school.

We've done so well to bring down the numbers - but basically every non-province-backed experts say it is too soon.

What is going on!? https://t.co/ihd0cTvRQg

— Stefan Arentz 🍁 🦊 🇳🇱 (@satefan) February 8, 2021

Many are simply frustrated by an apparent lack of reason and a noted lack of clarity.

Ontario lockdown can extend but the schools can open? I’m over this man

— LJ (@Leahxjonathan) February 9, 2021

A spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Education pointed out that all other public health unit regions have reopened schools as scheduled to date and that Monday's announcement would not impact the return to in-person learning.

The province has maintained,  based on the advice of medical experts, that in-person learning is vital to the mental health, well-being and development of children.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce also tweeted this week that "vigilance is required to protect our schools and seniors."

"In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Ontario is taking a cautious approach to reopening," tweeted Lecce following Ford's reopening announcement.

"Our priority is protecting families — that is why this is not a return to normal."

More #Ontario students will be heading back to class on Monday.

We spoke with education minister Stephen Lecce (@Sflecce) to discuss health measures taken by the Ontario government to keep schools safe and the likelihood of them staying open until the end of June.#ONpoli pic.twitter.com/ogwdtaI2Dt

— OMNI Television (@OMNITelevision) February 8, 2021

"Following the best medical advice, with the clear support of both Ontario's and the local Medical Officers of Health, we are reopening schools across the province knowing that we have taken additional steps and made additional investments to better protect our students and staff," said Lecce when announcing reopening dates for in-person learning earlier this month.

"Nothing is more important than returning kids to school safely because it is crucial for their development, mental health, and future success."

"Reducing the transmission of COVID-19 is fundamental to keeping our communities and schools safe," said Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams at the same time, pointing to new enhanced safety measures for schools such as "guidance discouraging students from congregating before and after school."

"Our collective efforts, like strictly adhering to all public health measures, in addition to the enhanced safety measures in schools, will help keep communities healthy and students learning alongside their peers in their classrooms."