A positive case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in a teacher at Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia, the Simcoe County District School Board has confirmed.
“We are in contact with the individual and from the information gathered so far all indications are that the virus was contracted in the community, and not in school,” said Dr. Charles Gardner, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit's medical officer of health. “The staff person was wearing full personal protection including a face mask and face shield and maintained physical distancing in the school setting.
“With this knowledge all indications are that students, and other school staff would not be considered at higher risk than the general public, and will not need to be tested or quarantined,” Dr. Gardner added. “The precautionary protocols developed in consultation with the province, the health unit and school boards appear to have succeeded in keeping the school community safe.”
The infected individual, who is asymptomatic, is self-isolating at home.
According to the province's data on schools and daycare centres, there are 29 total school-related cases of COVID-19 Ontario-wide as of Sept. 15 (14 staff, nine students, six unidentified) and they are spread across 27 different schools.
“We are working closely with all our schools and school boards to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19 as much as possible,” said Dr. Gardner, “and I urge families to do their part, too.”
With COVID-19 in our communities you can protect your children, families and others in the community by following these precautions at all times:
- Maintain your social circle of your immediate household members or no more than 10 people.
- Continue to screen your children before they come to school using the COVID-19 self-assessment tool<https://covid-19.ontario.
ca/self-assessment/> and keep your child home if he or she is ill, or has symptoms of COVID-19. - Continue to physically distance at least 2 metres from those outside your social circle, wear a face covering when physical distancing is not possible and when in indoor public spaces.
- Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer frequently.
- If you have symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate and get tested.
More to come.
