Dozens of students at a Catholic school in Leamington have been sent home after a student tested positive for COVID-19.
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board confirmed Monday evening that 42 students in two groups were dismissed from Cardinal Carter Catholic Middle School. The students have been asked not to attend class on Tuesday.
Board spokesman Stephen Fields said school officials are cooperating with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit in notifying parents of students in the affected cohorts.
"A voice message to the school community was sent home [Monday] evening to reassure parents that if they have not been contacted by the health unit, they have not been identified as close contacts and their children may continue attending school as usual." said Fields in an email to Blackburn News. "Follow-up letters will be sent home with students."
Parents are being asked to monitor their children each morning for symptoms. If they have any symptoms or otherwise feel ill, kids should be kept home and their health care provider should be called for further instructions.
No outbreaks have been declared by the health unit in any Windsor-Essex schools. However, at the English Catholic board, one staff member tested positive at St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School, and a student at Catholic Central High School in Windsor.
At the Greater Essex County District School Board, there was a total of four positive cases among students, and two staff as of Monday night.
A student at E.J.Lajeunesse with the French Catholic board, Conseil scolaire catholique Providence, has also recently tested positive for COVID-19.