13 infected in Stoney Creek school outbreak

Twelve students and one staff member at St. Gabriel have tested positive for COVID

A COVID-19 outbreak at a Stoney Creek Catholic elementary school has now infected 13 people.

According to HamiltonWentworth Catholic District School Board chair Pat Daly, 12 students and one staff member at St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School had tested positive for the virus as of Friday.

Hamilton public health is still reporting only 12 cases on its active outbreak list.

Daly said the outbreak is connected to one class. It was declared on Nov. 15 and the school remains open.

The latest case — in a student — comes just a day after principal Brent Condari addressed concerns from parents and guardians regarding ventilation in the affected classroom.

Condari wrote in a letter Thursday that portables, and the affected classroom in particular, have room-specific ventilators that have the ability to refresh the air in those spaces four times an hour.

“This, I’m told, is a highly desirable rate of air change,” wrote Condari, who noted that all units underwent “annual upgrades” over the summer months.

Condari said MERV-13 filters were also changed in late August and are expected to be changed again later this month. The units will be inspected, he added.

“I provide this comprehensive outline of our ventilation systems to reassure our community of the many enhanced health (and) safety and protection strategies in place at the school to keep our students and staff safe,” wrote Condari.

Hamilton public health met with school officials Thursday to “develop an understanding of the context in which the outbreak is occurring and the capacity to effectively manage and prevent further transmission,” wrote Condari.

The outbreak at St. Gabriel is tied for the largest school-related cluster since students returned to classrooms in September. Later that month and into October, an outbreak at Tapleytown Elementary School grew to include 10 students and three staff . St. Gabriel has a 65 per cent vaccination rate among its eligible students. It’s unclear whether any students in the class affected by the outbreak are vaccinated.

Prior to Friday, only those born in 2009 or earlier were eligible for a shot.

The outbreak is connected to one class. It was declared on Nov. 15 and the school remains open