COVID-19 outbreak declared at Lord Strathcona PS
A second case of COVID-19 associated with Lord Strathcona Public School has prompted the Limestone District School Board and KFL&A Public Health to declare an outbreak at the school.
“The purpose of this letter is to inform you that KFL&A Public Health has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at Lord Strathcona Public School following the identification of a second positive case,” said a letter to families of students at the school. “The second positive case was identified in a student in Apr. 9, 2021. As per provincial Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education guidance, an outbreak is declared in a school once it has been determined that two individuals have tested positive with an epidemiological link (e.g., these students/staff could have become infected with COVID-19 at school, either from each other or a common source).”
The second identified case comes after a COVID-19 case was initially identified on Monday, Apr. 5, 2021.
“We recognize that receiving this information may be stressful and we want to assure you that KFL&A Public Health and the school are taking all necessary steps to prevent further spread of the virus both in the school and the community. There is no additional risk to the school,” said the letter.
The school board identified high-risk contacts as students in a Grade 4/5 classroom and those who ride school bus 225. Students, staff and affected household members with possible contacts with those cohorts are being required to isolate.
“It is required that high-risk contacts have a COVID-19 test on or after day 10 (April 11, 2021). If this required testing is not done, isolation will be extended an extra 10 days,” the school board said. “High-risk contacts must isolate for the full 14 days (midnight on April 15, 2021) even if this test result is negative.”
The school board says that household members only need to be tested if they have symptoms, and students and staff who are not in the Grade 4/5 classroom and who do not ride Bus 225 and who were not phoned by KFL&A Public Health can stop isolating.
“Continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19,” LDSB continues in the letter. “If anyone in your household has or develops symptoms of COVID-19, they must self-isolate and should book an appointment at an assessment centre for testing as soon as possible. It is required that all household members isolate until the person with symptoms receives a negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional.”