OUTBREAK AT SCHOOL

Class dismissed at Brock

A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at a fourth school in Windsor.

General Brock Public School joined the list of outbreaks in the region on Tuesday after at least two people in the same classroom tested positive and the Windsor-essex County Health Unit determined at least one of them could have been infected in the school.

As a precaution, the entire class has been dismissed and is being asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

Students are also being asked to get tested for COVID-19.

One cohort of students is considered to have a high-risk for exposure to the novel coronavirus.

That cohort was dismissed last week.

Other students and staff at the school have been deemed low-risk and are continuing to attend school.

Sharon Pyke, superintendent of education for the Greater Essex County District School Board, said the board is working closely with the health unit to protect the health and safety of the Brock school community based in Windsor's Sandwich area.

Meanwhile, in South Windsor, 46 students were dismissed from St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School on Tuesday as a result of a confirmed COVID-19 case there.

“We learned of this confirmed case this morning, and dismissed the affected students early this afternoon,” the Windsor-essex Catholic District School Board said in a statement.

A nurse from the health unit was on-site to help with the dismissal process and provide support.

According to the board, the dismissed students were in a class of 29 children, plus a bus cohort of 17 more children.

The health unit is contacting students and staff who may have been affected.

The Catholic board messaged the entire St. Gabriel school community to reassure parents that those who have not received a call from the health unit have not been identified as close contacts, and school attendance may continue as usual.

Both boards and the health unit are urging parents to watch their children for symptoms each day before sending them to school.

Anyone feeling ill should stay home.

“It is essential for the students to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms every day,” said Dr. Wajid Ahmed, the local medical officer of health. “If you have any symptoms, go get tested.”

As of Tuesday, two other schools besides Brock are considered to have active outbreak situations: Frank W. Begley Public School and Corpus Christi Catholic Middle School's Central Park Athletics Campus.

An outbreak at W. J. Langlois Catholic Elementary School was declared on Nov. 19, and rescinded Tuesday.