Three COVID-19 cases related to schools have been announced recently. The Rainy River District School Board received a notice of two positive cases of COVID-19 associated with Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Emo, on September 9. Both cases are students. The Northwest Catholic District School Board announced one student case on September 10, associated with Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.
As a result, two classrooms at the SCAP have been closed, and all families impacted have been notified directly. All other classrooms in the school remain open. No classrooms have been closed at Our Lady of the Way. The Northwestern Health Unit is undergoing contact tracing, and those impacted will be notified directly with instructions.
In the Ontario database – which often lags several days behind NWHU and school board reporting platforms – the last 15 active cases were eight individuals under age 20, four in their 30s, one in their 40s and two in their 60s. Six of the cases were related to travel, five were close contacts and three cases were of unknown origin.
NWHU recommends that everyone, including those who have been vaccinated, assume COVID-19 is in their community and practise preventive measures like physical distancing, wearing a mask in enclosed public spaces and when physical distancing is a challenge, good hand hygiene, and not touching their face. Anyone who has symptoms, or who has been in contact with a positive case, should self-isolate and get tested. For information about getting tested, please visit the NWHU website for instructions on how to schedule an appointment at an assessment centre.
