Public health officials have declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at a Catholic elementary school in London.
The Middlesex London Health Unit confirmed the outbreak at St. Marguerite d’Youville Catholic School after a second positive case was identified within the school community late Monday. The second case appears to be linked to one reported at the school on Saturday.
“The declaration of an outbreak is a critical step in limiting any further spread of the virus within this school community,” Dr. Alex Summers, associate medical officer of health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit, said in a statement. “Transmission of COVID-19 within a school has been a rare occurrence in the Middlesex-London region. Health Unit staff will continue to follow up with affected families and staff members to provide support and advice on next steps.”
St. Marguerite d’Youville will remain open. However, staff and students in classrooms identified as having had close contact with the cases will be isolating at home for 14 days.
Health unit officials are working with London District Catholic School Board administration and school members to provide additional support to affected families and staff.
This is the first outbreak to be declared within a London-area elementary school. Other outbreaks of the virus continue on six units at University Hospital and on a single unit at the Parkwood Institute.
In order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the health unit recommends interactions be limited to people within the same household, a physical distance of at least 2 metres be maintained between people who do not share a living space, and face coverings be worn in all enclosed spaces where physical distancing cannot be maintained. Frequent hand washing and sanitization of high touch surfaces are also encouraged.
