First school COVID case this year prompts concerns; WECHU wants to keep in-person learning
Some Amherstburg parents and students are slightly more worried after a COVID-19 case was already reported at a local elementary school in the first week back to class..
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board dismissed 57 students from Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School in Amherstburg after receiving notification from the health unit of a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The WECDSB says 26 students were from one class, and the other 31 were from a bus cohort.
Student Marissa Lucas says she is “somewhat worried” because some of the kids sent home were in her class but says she is comfortable being in school.
“I’m double vaccinated and I know that everything is gonna to be ok,” she says.
Windsor-Essex County Health Unit CEO Nicole Dupuis says protocols and guidance for dismissal are mostly the same as last year, except this year there is an assessment of vaccination status.
“It potentially can change the duration if individuals have to isolate,” says Dupuis.
PROVINCIAL GUIDANCE FOR COVID CASES IN SCHOOLS
The Ontario government released “COVID-19 Guidance: School Case, Contact and Outbreak Management,” on Aug. 11, stating that individuals who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic are not required to isolate after a high-risk exposure to the virus.
Therefore, they would not need to be dismissed from school.
In addition, household members who live with a student that has been exposed to the virus do not need to self-isolate if they are fully vaccinated.
Those who are not fully immunized and were exposed to COVID-19 as a high-risk contact must isolate for 10 days. The guidelines indicate testing is recommended on day seven of their isolation period and the isolation should begin on the last day of the known exposure.
If a cohort contains students who are not vaccinated, or the immunization coverage is unknown, individual Public Health Units can choose to dismiss the cohort entirely.
Amherstburg parent Rachel Taylor says she is “a little uncomfortable still with our son going to school” because he is under the age of 12 and not yet eligible to receive a vaccine.
Another parent Lori Ouellette, says she is confident the right protocols are in place.
“My kids are coming back to school today,” says Ouellette. “I’m bringing them back. I’m confident the school is doing everything they can to minimize contact with keeping cohorts together and keeping spread hopefully to a minimum”.
WILL SCHOOLS BE FORCED TO CLOSE TO IN-PERSON LEARNING?
Something else on parents minds is how long schools will remain open for in-person learning this year.
“It’ll probably be happening everywhere so we’ll see if the schools s close back down or not,” said parent Josh Kay.
Windsor-Essex medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed says it’s possible for classes to have to go back online, but “definitely something that none of us want.”
“At this time we’re not contemplating that, we’re hoping that things will continue to improve in the community, in the school system to get the best education possible.
With files from CTV Windsor's Bob Bellacicco and CTVNewsToronto.ca.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.