Students at a Woodstock elementary school will be learning from home for the next two weeks.
St. Michael’s Catholic elementary school has been temporarily closed after three staff members in different classrooms likely have or have tested positive for COVID-19, the London District Catholic school board said late Thursday.
As the virus is believed to have spread within the school on Devonshire Avenue, Southwestern Public Health, the region's health unit, declared an outbreak.
"This decision to temporarily close the school was made out of an abundance of caution to help ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all 400-plus students and staff at the school," the board said in a statement.
While the London region has had dozens of school cases and previous outbreaks, this is the first time a local school has been shutdown as a result of spread.
The school will remain closed until at least March 24.
"During this temporary closure, students will continue their learning remotely," the board said.
Public health officials continue to investigate the cases and will be providing advise and support to those in the school community.