2 new student COVID-19 cases at Hamilton Catholic elementary school

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School has two confirmed student cases of COVID-19.

Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board sent a message to families on Tuesday saying the two studentshad a common exposure outside of school.

They were last in school, which sitsonQueensbury Drive near Upper Ottawa Street, onThursday, Sept.24. Two classrooms have been closed.

HWCDSBadded thatthe positive test results were confirmed by Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) on Tuesday.

"Students and staff from the two cohorts have been instructed by HPHS to self-isolate for 14 days from the date of last exposure on Sept. 24, effective immediately," read the notice.

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With both cases being contracted outside of school, the incident has not been declared an outbreak.

Hamilton public health will conduct contact tracing while the HWCDSB cleaned and sanitizedthe school.

The school remains open.

"The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff is always a priority concern for our school and school board, but is especially important during the current pandemic," read a letter from the principal to families.

"We will continue to work closely with HPHS to ensure all health and safety measures are in place to prevent transmission to other students and individuals in the school community."

The Catholic board has two other schools,Bishop TonnosCatholic Secondary School andGuardian Angels Catholic Elementary School, with COVID-19 cases.

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