Schools in Hagersville, Woodbridge, and Brampton report COVID-19 cases

Thestar.com
Sept. 14, 2020
Breanna Xavier-Carter

Three GTA school boards have reported at least one COVID-19 case in their communities on Sunday, according to public health.

The three schools are Louise Arbour Secondary School located in Brampton, Our Lady of Fatima CES in Woodbridge and Walpole North Elementary in Hagersville, just south of Brantford.

Each school put out a letter to parents and students notifying them of the cases and how they will be dealing with them moving forward.

Sharron Kuhl, principal of Louise Arbour in Brampton, says additional cleaning would be done at the school on Sunday, as part of regular protocol.

“It is important to share that the person got the virus in the community, not at our school,” said Kuhl.

In Hagersville, Randy Ongena, principal of Walpole North Elementary, is urging students, staff and anyone else who has come in close contact with the infected individual, to self-isolate for the next 14 days.

“Students and staff were identified through contact tracing as we provided the health unit with our class lists and seating charts as well as information related to transportation and any other special assignments,” says Ongena in the letter.

In Woodbridge, the person who contracted COVID was a staff worker at the before-and-after school program at Our Lady of Fatima CES, the director of education says.

Following an investigation by York Regional Public Health, it was found that the staff member was not showing any symptoms and was following all COVID-19 guidelines including wearing both a mask and face shield and keeping distance.

Mary Battista, director of education at York District School Board, informed parents that the case is low risk, however students and staff in the program are still being asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

“I recognize that this news may cause anxiety and concern, I want to reassure you that we are taking the situation very seriously,” said Battista in a letter.

Classes will continue on Monday at all three schools.