Variant of Concern Identified at Local Elementary School
The school is already closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak declared earlier in the week.
Today, Southwestern Public Health confirmed that a case of COVID-19 in a member of the St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School community has screened positive for a variant of concern (VOC).
Out of an abundance of caution, London District Catholic School Board made the decision to close the Woodstock school earlier this week after an outbreak of three linked cases was confirmed by the health unit. The new case is unrelated to the outbreak. The school will be closed until at least March 24, 2021.
“The Ministry of Health, local public health units and local school boards are working closely to monitor the variants of concern in order to prevent transmission in the school environment,” says Dr. Joyce Lock, Medical Officer of Health for the region. “We know that the variants are highly transmissible and could spread quickly through schools and into the homes of both staff and students. Our goal prevention and swift containment if a variant is identified,” she adds.
It is critical that families that attend St. Michael’s Catholic Elementary School have their children tested for COVID-19 seven days after their exposure.
A COVID-19 variant of concern is a mutation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus for which there is evidence of impact on public health practices or the care and treatment of an affected individual. There are currently at least three known VOCs circulating internationally and within Canada. When variants transmit more easily from person to person, there is the risk of significant strain on the health system including increasing cases of COVID-19 and hospitalizations.
Media Contacts
Megan Cornwell
Communications | Southwestern Public Health
519-320-0819
mcornwell@swpublichealth.ca