Positive COVID-19 case identified at Lord Strathcona PS

The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) has alerted all families at Lord Strathcona Public School of a positive case of COVID-19 identified at the school.

In a letter sent to families with students at Lord Strathcona Public School on Monday, Apr. 5, 2021, the board relayed a message from Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington (KFL&A) Public Health that a student at the school has tested positive for the virus.

“COVID-19 Variants of Concern (VOC) are now in our community and can spread more easily. Additional caution is taken to help reduce spread,” the letter reads.

Anyone who attended or worked at Lord Strathcona Public School on Wednesday, Mar. 31 or Thursday, Apr. 1, 2021 is instructed to self-isolate until they hear otherwise. KFL&A Public Health will send further messaging to the families after additional investigation has taken place.

“Given the scope of this isolation, Lord Strathcona Public School will close temporarily for the week of April 6 to 9, 2021. In-person classes will switch to remote learning. The school will be in touch with families directly about plans for device distribution where required,” the letter said.

According to the letter, KFL&A Public Health is working with the school to identify cohorts of students and staff who may have been in close contact with the COVID-19 positive person at school or during school transportation, if applicable.

Families at the school have been directed to:

• Take their student directly home to self-isolate. That student should only go out if they require emergency medical care or COVID-19 testing.
• Anyone who is continuing to have contact with their student should isolate as well.
• If their student has symptoms of COVID-19, the student should be tested as soon as possible
• It is not necessary to have students tested at this time if they do not have symptoms of COVID-19. Testing now may lead to unnecessary or repeat testing.
• If families receive an additional letter or are contacted by KFL&A Public Health, follow the guidance provided.
• If families have not received an additional letter indicating that their student’s cohort has been affected, household members that do not attend Lord Strathcona Public School are not required to isolate at this time. They can continue to go to work, school, or childcare if they pass the daily screening and are not having ongoing contact with anyone that attends Lord Strathcona Public School.
• If someone 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.
• Families will receive further communication from KFL&A Public Health in the next few days.

Public Health will contact all individuals who had close contact with the person who tested positive and will provide direction to those close contacts, the letter said.

Five other cases of COVID-19 were identified within LDSB schools in the last week of March 2021. All but one of the four schools affected have reopened, and Centreville Public School is scheduled to reopen on Tuesday, Apr. 6, 2021.

There are currently six active COVID-19 cases within the board.

For more detailed information on COVID-19 protocols at LDSB schools, click here.