STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Lakehead Public Schools has been notified by Thunder Bay District Health Unit that a student at École Gron Morgan Public School has tested positive for COVID-19.
Upon receiving the report, TBDHU immediately initiated an investigation to assess possible exposures in the school. At this time, there is no evidence of spread to anyone else within the school setting. Working closely with the school and Lakehead Public Schools, TBDHU will continue to take a strong approach to follow-up and manage this situation.
Parents and caregivers of students in the impacted class/cohort were contacted today by the school and advised to pick up their children. Individuals in the same classroom or cohort are considered “close contacts.” The affected cohort/class has been closed for a 14 day quarantine period. Families of these students will also be contacted directly by a public health nurse today and given instructions about what they need to do. Public health will continue to follow up with those families to provide ongoing information and support.
Public health nurses from TBDHU also attended the school today to assess the situation and gather more information to determine any others, including students, staff, and visitors, who may have been exposed to the virus. Any additional people identified as close contact will be contacted directly by a public health nurse. As per standard practice, TBDHU will also be following up on contacts outside the school setting, as needed.
Anyone identified by public health as a close contact will be required to stay home and will not return to the school setting until cleared by public health.
At this time, everyone else in the school setting who is not specifically contacted by public health, would be considered at low risk and does not require testing because of this situation. Please visit Guidance for Parents and Caregivers provided on the TBDHU Website, including screening your child for symptoms each day prior to attending school. The school will remain open for in-class instruction as per regular practice.
École Gron Morgan, like all schools in the TBDHU, has implemented significant measures to reduce the risk of spread of the COVID-19 virus within the school setting. Further information on the public health response to cases in a school setting is attached. This can also be found on the TBDHU website.
Further information will be provided to the school community in the coming days.