COVID-19 outbreak declared at Regiopolis-Notre Dame

Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic High School.

According to Public Health, the outbreak has involved seven cases in total, three of which are resolved, leaving four active cases in the outbreak, which was declared officially on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. KFL&A Public Health does not indicate whether the COVID-19 cases are among students, staff, or both.

The Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) typically lists the active COVID-19 cases within the board, as per Public Health and Ministry of Education guidelines, however, the board removed all listings on Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, and replaced them with the following statement:

“During the winter break any COVID-19 positive cases reported to ALCDSB from Public Health that identify high-risk contacts will be notified directly through School Messenger. This website will be updated once classes resume.” Classes resume for schools within the ALCDSB on Monday, Jan. 3, 2022.

With no COVID-19 case listings provided by the Board, it is unknown when the first case of COVID-19 was detected at the downtown high school, however, students at Regi (who wish to remain anonymous) have communicated that they are currently in isolation after a positive case was detected within their student cohort during the week ending Friday, Dec. 17, 2021.

There are currently 53 active outbreaks in KFL&A, consisting of 254 active cases of COVID-19. According to KFL&A data, 21 of those outbreaks are at schools in the region, many of which are not within of the ALCDSB. Currently, nearly 40 per cent of outbreaks in the region are in area schools.

According to KFL&A Public Health data, however, four ALCDSB schools are listed as currently experiencing outbreaks including Regi. The other three schools are Holy Cross Secondary School (12 active, one resolved, 13 total cases), St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School (six active, six total cases), and St. Martha Catholic School (five active, one resolved, six total cases).

As of Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, there are 1,557 active cases of COVID-19 in KFL&A, with 26 cases hospitalized, 14 of which are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 10 of which are on ventilators. KFL&A Public Health is reporting a current COVID-19 positivity rate of 412.5 cases per 100,000 people over the last seven days. Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health for KFL&A Public Health addressed the media the same day, and offer “three principles” for KFL&A residents to follow with the holidays upon us.