The Lambton-Kent public school board director says despite an apparent increase in COVID-19 cases in local schools, transmission remains very low.
John Howitt told Sue Storr on CHOK (103.9 FM, 1070 AM) Friday morning that the eight Lambton schools currently with cases are all open.
"Very few of those actually had to have cohorts dismissed, as the staff or students who were the confirmed positives were already being isolated at home based on contact tracing of a close contact with another confirmed case," said Howitt. "So there was only one of those where we had to dismiss staff and students as the confirmed case was in the school, but in none of those has there been transference within the school."
Howitt also said that asymptomatic testing that was scheduled to begin Friday is delayed as regulatory and language details are finalized.
"Unfortunately, we're still working through some of the regulatory pieces that are necessary with the vendor, and that's nearly done," he said. "We're also working with language services to ensure that diversity can be addressed and that services can be provided in both official languages. Once that's all tied up, week one we'll have a date and that will be broadly advertised."
Testing will be done over a five-week period, in partnership with the St. Clair Catholic board, and the two French language boards.
-With files from Sue Storr
