By Sue Tiffin
Archie Stouffer Elementary School staff and students in a Grade 2 class on Sept. 20 have been identified as close contacts of a student who has tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, those staff and students in the cohort who are not fully vaccinated were informed Sept. 27 by the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge district health unit that they must self-isolate at home until Sept. 30.
“These individuals must not leave their home unless to be tested or to seek necessary medical attention,” said Sinead Fegan, communications officer with Trillium Lakelands District School Board. “The health unit recommends they go for testing at the nearest assessment centre as soon as possible.”
The cohort can return to school and other essential activities after midnight on Sept. 30 if they have no symptoms.
“Household members of a close contact who has symptoms and are not fully vaccinated, must be tested and also isolate until test results return for the close contact,” said Fegan. “Household members who are fully immunized do not have to isolate. Those identified as a close contact who are fully vaccinated have been directed by the health unit to not return to school until cleared by public health. The health unit also recommends they go for testing at the nearest assessment centre and monitor daily for symptoms. Once they are cleared by the health unit they can return to school/work. Household members of a close contact who is fully vaccinated do not have to isolate if the close contact is awaiting test results.”
According to the TLDSB COVID-19 advisory school status page, as of Sept. 28, there is also currently one active COVID-19 student case each at Fenelon Township Public School, Langton Public School, Fenelon Falls Secondary School and IE Weldon Secondary School. The site notes that, “A positive case at the school does not mean the individual was exposed to COVID-19 at the school. They may have been exposed somewhere else in the community.”
For more information visit https://www.tldsb.ca/covid19-advisory/ or call the health unit at 1-866-888-4577, ext. 1508.
