The Grey Bruce Health Unit is working with the Bruce-Grey Catholic School Board and St. Mary’s High School to address a COVID-19 outbreak of 5 cases at St. Mary’s High School. Eleven cohorts and one bus have been identified and impacted in the school related to this outbreak.
At this time, the school will close to in-person learning and move to virtual learning out of an abundance of caution related to cohort dismissals, not due to Public Health direction or requirements. We commend the School Board on being proactive and having alterative plans for virtual learning.
The individuals with COVID-19 have been contacted directly by our COVID-19 Case and Contact Management Team. We are working with the individuals and the school, along with the school board and bus company and have identified all others, both in and out of the school environment, who may have been exposed and have determined their risk level. Any cohorts that have been identified as contacts to the cases have been excluded from school at this time. Due to closure, all students and staff have been dismissed.
We ask that ALL students and staff are tested for COVID as soon as possible at local assessment centres. We are currently working with the area assessment centres to increase the appointments for swabbing. Please monitor your emails or the local news media for updates on testing clinics this week.
Assessment Centres:
o Owen Sound;
o Southampton;
o Lion’s Head
· Kincardine Assessment Centre
Grey Bruce Health Unit is conducting drive thru testing clinics for students and staff and other high-risk contacts as directed by Public Health.
These clinics will be held:
· Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (December 13, 14, 15)
· 11:00am-3:00pm in the GBHU parking lot 101 17th Street East in Owen Sound, N4K 0A5
Public Health is the lead in all COVID-19 investigations, outbreaks and case management. Public Health will contact you within 24 hours if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, based on a thorough risk assessment completed only by Public Health.
All contact tracing and determination of individual and community risk is made by Public Health. This is true of all cases, whether in schools, workplaces or the community. A health care provider or school official cannot make this decision.
This outbreak highlights the need to ensure that all eligible individuals get the COVID-19 vaccine. All individuals turning five this year and older can get their COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine remains the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and severe complications related to COVID-19.
As a reminder to the public, if you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please proceed to your nearest assessment centre for testing.
source: media release, GBHU
