Two New Sudbury schools are closed through March 4 after five cases of COVID-19 among staff and students tested positive for variants of concern, Public Health Sudbury and Districts announced today.
The health unit announced three cases of COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) at Lasalle Secondary School and two at Cyril Varney Public School.
“These measures were taken as a precaution to protect the school communities and to reduce the spread of the virus,” Public Health said in a news release. “In addition to the affected schools, elementary bus route N100 afternoon route is also affected.”
Besides all staff and students of Lasalle Secondary and Cyril Varney, students who took the elementary bus route N100 afternoon route from Feb. 16 to Feb. 18 are advised to self-isolate and seek testing for COVID-19.
Public Health has not declared an outbreak at either school.
“At this time, there is no evidence that the virus was acquired or spread within the school communities,” the health unit stated. “Therefore, no outbreak has been declared in association with these cases. Public Health continues to investigate and monitor the situation.”
Parents and guardians are being provided notice of the school and bus dismissals, and will receive public health guidance, Public Health said. The health unit will call parents or guardians, as well as employees, to provide direction.
Parents and guardians of students can find additional information on the Rainbow District School Board’s website.
In a post on its website, the Rainbow Board said teaching and learning will continue remotely for students at both schools. The board also said respective schools will reach out to students and families to provide more information.
The more contagious COVID-19 variants of concern (VOC) has prompted the Ministry of Health to introduce stricter self-isolation and school screening requirements, the health unit also said.
You can find additional information, including current case counts and epidemiological data on the Public Health Sudbury and Districts website.
On Tuesday, the Sudbury health unit reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 in the area, a jump from Monday's report which had zero new cases.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) said there are now 27 cases being actively monitored, an upward change from the 21 cases being monitored on Monday. Since the pandemic was declared almost a year ago, there have been 594 total COVID-19 cases reported to the Sudbury health unit, with 567 of those cases being resolved locally.
With respect to where the new cases occurred, the PHSD daily update page reported that 11 cases were found to have occurred within the Greater Sudbury Area.
– Sudbury.com
