Students from two Walpole Island elementary schools have been dismissed and will learn from home next week after a student tested positive for COVID-19.
Walpole Island First Nation Council posted the announcement on social media on Friday afternoon, stating that students from Bkejwanong Kinomaagewgamig and Anishinaabeg Kinomaagewgamig were dismissed as a precautionary measure.
The post also said that test results are pending for a second student.
"There is no known or suspected transmission of COVID-19 having occurred within the school and for that reason, an outbreak has not been declared under the School Outbreak Management Plan," read the post. "Potential contacts from classrooms and buses will be notified and the contact tracing is currently being managed by Lambton Public Health while Walpole Island Health Centre staff [are] performing community vaccination."
In-person learning is expected to resume at the schools on March 17.
According to the latest update posted on Walpole Island First Nation's website, there are four active cases in the community.
Earlier this week, Walpole Island Health Centre started asking residents 65 years of age and older to call the centre for information about the COVID-19 vaccine. Band members 50 years of age and older were advised on Wednesday to call and book an appointment.
The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit reported 11 active cases of COVID-19 on Friday.
Across the province, 1,250 new cases were reported along with 22 deaths related to the novel coronavirus.
The provincial government announced plans on Friday to move to Phase Two of its vaccination plan next month.
Ontario is preparing to move into Phase Two of our #COVID19 vaccination distribution plan in April, with over 2M doses to be delivered by the federal government by the end of March. Phase Two will focus on vaccinating populations based on age and risk. https://t.co/sW75W9BADC pic.twitter.com/ZLgMG8qfdB
— Christine Elliott (@celliottability) March 5, 2021