THUNDER BAY – Health authorities have identified a confirmed case of COVID-19 associated with Pope John Paul II Senior Elementary School, the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board announced Sunday.
The case impacts three student cohorts across two schools, who will be required to remain home until cleared by public health. That includes one school cohort at Pope John Paul, and two bus cohorts, one of which includes students from St. Patrick High School.
The case is not associated with another announced at Pope John Paul on Feb. 10, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit stated in a letter to the community.
“At this time, there is still no evidence that the virus has spread in the school setting,” the letter stated. “This is not considered an outbreak.”
According to provincial guidelines, an outbreak is declared when two cases are reported at a school within 14 days, where at least one could reasonably have been acquired in the school setting.
According to the school board, parents, guardians, and staff associated with the three impacted cohorts have been notified of the exposure.
Anyone identified as a close contact, including those cohorts, will be contacted by a public health nurse, the health unit said.
