Vaughan private schools closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks

Thornhill Jewish schools - Eitz Chaim and Netivot HaTorah - have undergone mulitple investigations

Yorkregion.com
Dec. 10, 2021
Kim Zarzour

Two private schools in York Region -- Eitz Chaim School -- Springfarm Branch and Netivot HaTorah Day School and Child Care, both located in Vaughan -- are closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

An outbreak is defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period with at least one case that could have been acquired in the school.

Eitz Chaim Boys School, at 80 York Hill Blvd. temporarily dismissed all cohorts and transitioned to virtual learning Dec. 7.

As of Dec. 8, there were 26 confirmed COVID-19 cases (23 students, 3 staff/visitors).

It’s the seventh outbreak investigation at the Orthodox Jewish elementary school. The Eitz Chaim Girls School on Viewmount Ave. in North York, was also temporarily closed by Toronto Public Health Dec. 6.

Students who receive a negative PCR test result at the York Region school can return to school Dec. 12. Those who do not get tested are required to stay off school for 10 days and return Dec. 19.

Netivot HaTorah Day School and Child Care north campus, at 18 Atkinson Ave., temporarily dismissed all cohorts and transitioned to virtual learning Dec. 9.

As of Dec. 8, there were 16 students confirmed with COVID-19.

This is the 10th COVID-19 outbreak investigation at the co-educational orthodox elementary Jewish day school in Thornhill.

Students who receive a negative PCR test result can return to school Dec. 13. Those who do not get tested are required to stay off school until Dec. 20.

International travel outside of Canada is not known to be the source of the current cases in the school, said York Region spokesperson Patrick Casey in an emailed statement.

Further details of the investigations were not shared due to privacy considerations.

“York Region Public Health has been in regular communication with the school administrations and has responded to the unique needs of these schools, including providing appropriate testing and dismissal guidance," Casey said.

Students and staff identified as close contacts of cases in affected cohorts have been informed and are required to self-isolate.

While dismissed, all students and staff are expected to stay home from school or child care, refrain from interacting with others and monitor for symptoms

Anyone who develops symptoms is required to self-isolate and get tested for COVID-19 at one of the York Region school-based community clinics or visit a COVID-19 assessment centre.

At a York Region council meeting Dec. 9, Dr. Barry Pakes, medical officer of health, said children aged 5 to 11 are experiencing the most illness and a push is on to increase vaccinations in this age group.

The most affected group continues to be children who are not vaccinated, at a “quite high” rate of about 105 per 100,000, he said.

With holiday gatherings this time of year, the outbreaks at the two private schools are an important reminder of the caution required to celebrate safely, Casey said.

“We recognize this has been a very difficult time for families, with many children and their siblings abiding by public health measures and staying home from school due to COVID-19 exposures; decisions to dismiss cohorts or recommend whole school dismissals are not made lightly as they impact both families and students,” Casey said.

“Our goal is the well-being of children and families and a return to sustained in-person learning as quickly as possible; please get vaccinated.”