Dozens of students at four schools in Chatham-Kent were sent home on Monday after possibly being exposed to a probable case of COVID-19.
The Lambton Kent District School Board (LKDSB) issued an updated statement Tuesday morning, saying that 23 students from Harwich Raleigh Public School and 18 students from Blenheim District High School were dismissed on Monday due to a probable case of COVID-19 in the school community.
LKDSB added that the schools will remain open to students.
Meantime, the Director of Education for the St. Clair Catholic District School Board (SCCDSB), Deb Crawford, said due to a probable case at Ursuline College Chatham (UCC), two classes -- totalling 35 students -- were sent home on Monday at the direction of Chatham-Kent Public Health.
A probable case also prompted the SCCDSB to send six bus students at St. Anne in Blenheim home.
Crawford notes that a "probable case is a close contact of a confirmed case." She is also emphasizing that unless public health contacts families or students, they do not need to take any action.
Chatham-Kent Public Health, which notified the school board of the probable case on Monday, is working closely with the school communities to contact any individuals (students and staff) who may have been in contact with the virus.
CK Public Health said only those who were in close contact with the probable case will be contacted. Health officials are asking parents and guardians to continue monitoring their children for symptoms of COVID-19 and to keep them at home and call their health care provider or local health unit if their child is sick.
Both schools posted a letter and a fact sheet on their websites from Chatham-Kent Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby.
Meanwhile, three new cases of COVID-19 were reported within Chatham-Kent on Monday, which comes after several days of no active cases within the municipality. CK Public Health has reported that one of the newly infected people was exposed to the virus at an unidentified workplace resulting in a new workplace outbreak. How the other two people were exposed remains under investigation.