No school impact, risk from positive COVID-19 cases in area schools

Four area schools have reported positive cases of COVID-19 since in-person learning resumed on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

Two schools in the Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB), as well as two schools in the Limestone District School Board (LDSB), have reported at least one positive case over the last seven school days.

ALCDSB reported two cases at St. Marguerite Bourgeoys on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021, and one case at St. Thomas More Catholic School identified on Thursday, Sept. 9. In the Limestone board, three cases were reported on Wednesday, Sept. 15 — two at JR Henderson Public School and one at Kingston Secondary School.

According to statements from the school boards, KFL&A Public Health has been notified of all cases, and it has been determined that these cases pose no risk to students or staff. As such, no cohorts will be required to isolate at this time and the schools will remain open. 

Instances when a positive case in a school poses no risk to the school include:

• The case(s) is learning or teaching virtually and has not been in the school.
• The case(s) was already isolating and not attending school because they were previously identified as a close contact of a case.
• The case(s) was not present at the school when they were infectious. 

KFL&A Public Health works closely with schools to ensure that necessary steps are taken to prevent the further spread of the virus both in the school and the community, according to the statements.

Public Health and the school boards ask families to continue to monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and screen students daily as most cases of COVID-19 are acquired in the home setting.

Cases in schools must be reported locally and provincially. No further information will be released to maintain privacy, according to the school boards. Visit the LDSB page COVID-19 Confirmed Cases webpage, and the ALCDSB page COVID-19 Information and Updates for lists of current cases.