Confirmed cases of COVID-19 have forced the Catholic school board in Windsor-Essex to dismiss over 300 students.
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board announced on Sunday that 54 students within two cohorts at St. Joseph's Catholic High School have been told to stay at home until further notice due to two confirmed COVID-19 cases. As well, the board said another 58 students have been dismissed from St. John Vianney Catholic Elementary School due to another COVID-19 infection.
Students have also been dismissed from Cardinal Carter Catholic High School and F.J. Brennan High Schools, along with St. John de Brebeuf, St. Piux X, and Stella Maris Catholic Elementary Schools.
"We have been working with the health unit by providing lists of students and staff who may have been directly affected," the school board said in a news release. "The health unit is contacting any individuals, both students and staff, who may have been affected, and will give directions for them to follow."
The parents of the affected students have been notified that their children will be unable to return to school until they have received further direction from the health unit.
"We want to assure parents that we are cooperating with the health unit and doing everything we can to make sure that we continue to provide a safe and healthy learning environment for their children," the school board said.
The Greater Essex County District School Board does not make public how many students are dismissed when cases are confirmed at their schools. However, there are infections at Bellewood Elementary School, Queen Victoria Elementary School, and Herman Academy on the secondary side.
All of the impacted schools remain open at this time.
