THUNDER BAY -- A new COVID-19 case has been linked to a local public school.
Lakehead Public Schools notified the public Friday afternoon that an individual associated with the St. James Public School community has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a Lakehead Public Schools release, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has initiated an investigation to assess possible exposures in the school.
At this time, there is no evidence of spread to anyone else within the school setting. Superintendent AJ Keene credited that to the school's close adherence to COVID-19 guidelines.
“The health unit was very complimentary to the school in terms of following those protocols, ensuring they’re wearing medical masks appropriately at all times, as well as eye protection," he said. "They said it really is because of the use of PPE, as well as the distancing in common spaces like staff rooms, that it resulted in no high-risk contacts being identified.”
“It’s a bad-news story, but on the whole it’s about as good as we could have hoped," he said.
The TBDHU will continue to follow-up and manage the situation and anyone identified as a close contact will be required to stay home and not return to the school setting until cleared.
Public health has concluded their investigation and at this time they have not identified any high-risk staff or students. They will continue to closely monitor the situation and advise of any changes.
TBDHU nurses have attended the school to assess the situation and gather more information to determine any others, including students, staff, and visitors, who may have been exposed to the virus.
As per standard practice, TBDHU will also be following up on contacts outside the school setting, as needed.
Those who have not been contacted by TBDHU would be considered at low risk and do not require testing because of this situation.
The school will remain open for in-class instruction, and Keene expressed confidence there was no risk to staff or students.
"We do feel confident that staff and students can return to school on Monday perfectly safe," he said. "We’re going to give the school a thorough disinfecting over the weekend, even though we’re sort of past the exposure dates and it’s not really a concern.”
