Children wearing face masks in school. (File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / halfpoint)Children wearing face masks in school. (File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo / halfpoint)
London

Three COVID-19 outbreaks, 14 cases reported at area schools

Fourteen new cases of COVID-19 have been identified at ten London-area schools, with outbreaks declared at three of them.

The Thames Valley District school board confirmed late Tuesday night AB Lucas Secondary, Davenport Public, Rick Hansen Public, and Roch Carrier French Immersion Public had two new cases each.

Clarke Road Secondary, John Wise Public, Lord Dorchester Secondary, Oakridge Secondary, Saunders Secondary, and West Oaks French Immersion Public each had a single case.

The outbreaks were declared at AB Lucas Secondary, Davenport Public, and Roch Carrier French Immersion Public. An outbreak is declared when there are two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases over a 14-day period with evidence of transmission within the school.

Parents, guardians, and staff at all of the schools have been notified and the Middlesex-London Health Unit and Southwestern Public Health are working to identify close contacts of the infected individuals.

"If you do not receive a letter from Thames Valley indicating the public health unit has identified your child as a close contact, your child is not considered to be at risk," said the school board. "Only those staff and students who have been identified as a close contact will be notified and advised to stay home from school and quarantine for a period of 14 days."

All schools are currently closed for the winter break.

The return to school will be a little different than originally planned due to the province-wide lockdown that begins on December 26. Elementary and secondary school students across the province will participate in full remote learning their first week after the break from January 4 to January 8. Elementary students can return to in-person learning the following week, but secondary students will have to continue remote learning until January 25.

“As always, we will support our students and families to ensure a smooth transition to remote learning and ensure that no student is disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic,” said TVDSB Director Mark Fisher.

More than 15,000 computer devices and 1,100 cellular-enabled devices have been handed out to to students learning remotely this year. Families in need of a device can complete a request form through the board's parent portal.

Fisher reiterated that schools are not behind the surging COVID-19 numbers across the province.

“But schools are a microcosm of society. If we are vigilant and follow the recommended public health protocols, hopefully, we will be in good shape at the end of this new phase of restrictions," said Fisher.

There are currently 43 active COVID-19 cases in school communities within the Thames Valley district. For the full list of confirmed COVID-19 cases within the school board click here.

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