A Catholic secondary school in east Windsor has closed completely due to positive COVID-19 cases.
According to a letter sent to parents and obtained by Blackburn News, St. Joseph's Catholic High School has been closed due to an outbreak of the virus.
"As per provincial direction, a school outbreak is declared if there are two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students or staff in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school," read the letter, signed by principal Danielle Desjardins. "As a result of this closure, students will be transitioning to online learning beginning Thursday, September 16."
All students, teachers, and staff who were at the school between Tuesday, September 7 and Thursday, September 9, and have not been previously identified as part of a cohort that was earlier dismissed, have been asked to get a COVID-19 test. Anyone who feels ill or has symptoms is urged to self-isolate, get a test regardless of vaccination status, and contact their health care provider for further instructions.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit confirmed five positive cases tied to the school and that the building will be closed until further notice.
"Based on the level of spread in our community, it is necessary to excuse students in order to limit the potential for spread in this setting," said health unit CEO Nicole Dupuis. "We are actively working to investigate cases tied to this school and provide guidance to those directly impacted."
Students will receive additional instructions from their teachers via their email accounts.
The letter said any additional information, including a school reopening, will be passed along as it becomes available.