The Ford government is putting more money towards further improving ventilation in schools as students prepare to return to classrooms in September.

”An additional $25-million investment for the purchase of approximately 20,000 additional standalone HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters or HEPA units,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced.

There are already about 50,000 of these units in schools.

This brings the total investments in ventilation to $600-million, which Lecce adds will ensure all classrooms, portables, gyms, libraries and other instructional spaces without mechanical ventilation will have standalone filter units.

Meanwhile, the education minister also announced that students will be able to participate in ”high-contact indoor sports” like basketball and hockey.

However, Lecce repeated the province still has no intention to make vaccinations mandatory for teachers, staff or students.