The English Catholic school board in the Windsor-Esse region has confirmed two additional cases of novel coronavirus.
On Monday evening, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board (WECDSB) reported that two student cohorts at St. William Catholic Elementary School in Lakeshore had been sent home after two cases were identified. The students have been told to self-isolate for 14 days and learn from home. As per procedure, all parents of students who may have been in contact with the two patients have been notified.
"We have been working with the health unit by providing lists of students and staff who may have been directly affected," said board spokesman Stephen Fields. "The health unit is contacting any individuals, both students and staff, who may have been affected, and will give directions for them to follow."
Fields pointed out that the two new cases are not connected to the one identified on November 19. That cohort is expected to return to school Tuesday.
"One cohort includes 23 students and the other includes 29. The total number of students dismissed was 52," said Fields. "We learned of these confirmed cases this afternoon and have notified the affected students that they are not to attend school [Tuesday]. The cohorts that were dismissed [Monday] are a different group of students who will be required to self isolate for 14 days."
Classes for the remaining students at St. William will proceed Tuesday as usual, pending any winter weather conditions.
According to the board's COVID-19 webpage on Monday night, there were 12 cases reported so far with the WECDSB. Only one school, W.J. Langlois Elementary in Windsor, was closed completely for two weeks after four cases were confirmed there.
