SLATE RIVER, Ont. -- COVID-19 has found its way into Valley Central Public School.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit on Friday informed Lakehead Public Schools it had confirmed two cases of COVID-19 at the Slate River, Ont. school, saying at this time there is no evidence the virus has spread in the school setting, so it's not considered an outbreak.Lakehead Public Schools and the TBDHU are working closely to investigate and manage any potential exposures in the school and any related settings, such as bus transportation.
The health unit is investigating close contacts, which would include some, or all, individuals with the same transportation or are in the same classroom, or cohort.
Parents or caregivers of students in the impacted class will be contacted directly by public health officials and given further instructions. Public health nurses will also be contacting directly any teachers, staff, visitors or any others who are impacted.
These individuals and anyone else identified by public health as a close contact will be required to stay home and not return to the school setting until cleared by public health.
Everyone else in the school setting who is not deemed a close contact and therefore not specifically contacted by public health, would not be considered at elevated risk and does not require testing because of this situation at this time.
The full investigation will continue to unfold over the next few days. Additional measures and actions will be taken as needed to manage the situation. Again, public health will contact individuals and families who are directly impacted.
