MLHU Declares COVID-19 Outbreak at École élémentaire La Pommeraie after Fourth Case Confirmed – London | The Canadian News

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at a French-language primary school in the city after a fourth positive case was confirmed there, the Middlesex-London Health Unit said on Friday.

Health officials said the outbreak at École élémentaire La Pommeraie on Settlement Trail is the first school-associated outbreak in the region so far this school year. Transmission of COVID-19 occurred between close contacts while they were at school, they said.

“The last person to test positive for COVID-19 is currently in isolation at home after it was discovered that they were a close contact from a previous case; they did not attend school during their period of transmissibility, “the health unit said in a statement.

In a statement, Julie Vanghelder, director of communications for Conseil scolaire Viamonde, told 980 CFPL that the four cases involved three students and a staff member.

“We will continue to work with MLHU and follow their recommendations as our priority is the safety of our school community,” Vanghelder said by email.

According to the health unit, only staff and students in classrooms identified as having had close contact with people positive for COVID-19 will be excluded from attending school.

In a statement, Dr Chris Mackie, the London and Middlesex health medical officer, said that because the close contacts of the confirmed cases were in self-isolation, “there is no need for further action by staff or students. apart from monitoring themselves for the development of symptoms. “

“Because most children who go to elementary schools are too young to get vaccinated, the best thing we can do to protect them is to make sure the people they spend time with have already been vaccinated,” he said.

Only those 12 and older are currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CS Viamonde website, École élémentaire La Pommeraie teaches kindergarten through sixth grade.

“Students will be able to continue remote learning in Microsoft Teams with their teachers,” Vanghelder said of those who are isolated.

“The school remains open and continues the management of COVID-19 protocol created by the Viamonde school board for the 2021-2022 school year ”.

At least 14 COVID-19 cases were active in local elementary and middle schools as of Friday.

Of these, three cases were active at the École secondaire catholique Monseigneur-Bruyère, a French-language Catholic school. Two of each were also active at CS Viamonde’s Gabriel-Dumont High School, and the Thames Valley District School Board’s Kensal Park Public School.

According to data from the health unit, 197 cases of COVID-19 were considered active in the region as of Friday. Of these, 29 involved people under the age of 12, while 16 involved people between the ages of 12 and 17.

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