1st student case of COVID-19 in Hamilton public school as Ontario infections rise

Hamilton's public school board has its first student case of COVID-19 as local schools continue to see more infections.

AnR.L. Hyslop Elementary School student tested positive for the virus, according to theHamilton-Wentworth District School Board.

Jennifer Hogan, the Stoney Creek school's vice principal,addressedfamilies on Sunday.

She said the student was last in the building, on Lake Avenue South near King Street East, on Tuesday, Sept. 22. They werealso in the Today's Family before-and-after-school program, which offers programming for kids up to 12-years-old.

"As a precautionary measure, the cohort of students associated with this case have received instruction from Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) to not attend school and isolate for a 14-day period. HPHSare also contacting impacted staff members," Hogan's letter said.

"Students considered close contacts in that [Today's Family] program will be contacted by HPHS."

It's unclearhow long the infected student hasbeen self-isolating and how they got the virus.

INTERACTIVE | Use this map to findCOVID-19 cases in local schools

Public health says it willdetermine who needs to self-isolateand for how long. The board takes care of cleaning and disinfection. It will also provide mental health supports to those who need it.

This comes afterastaff member at the Umbrella Family and Child Centre before-and-after school program at Templemead Elementary School tested positiveon Sept. 17.

The new case atR.L. Hyslop is the public board's first official case.

Itis also one of 10new incidents of COVID-19 in local schools since late Fridayas infection numbers rise in Ontario.

1 new Hamilton private school case

Hillfield Strathallan College is reporting a second student COVID-19 case. Itwas confirmed on Wednesday according to a notice fromMarc Ayotte, head of theprivate school onFennell Ave West.

It's unclear if HPHS has declared an outbreak the school'sfirst case was confirmed 13 days earlier.

Anoutbreak is declared when there are at least two lab-confirmed cases in a school that are connected in some way or whenthatlink can't be ruled out.

Despite learning about the new case last week, the collegeposted an online update on Sunday.

"The student was last on campus on September 21," Ayotte's notice said.

The college offers schooling all the way to Grade 12.

Hillfield Strathallan also has a Montessori School for kids aged 18 months to 9-years-old.

"On Sept. 26,HPHSadvised the College that the affected cohort in Montessori School will remain at home for the isolation period and will continue their learning online."

Ayottesaidthat, according to public health,siblings of students in that affected cohort can continue attendingschool as they are considered "contacts of a contact and as such are considered to be low-risk."

Children are also able to keep going to class unless public health tells them otherwise.

4 new Burlington school cases

On Monday, Halton District School Board announced a new student COVID-19 case at Mohawk Gardens Public School in Burlington.

One classroom at the school on Spruce Avenue is closed as a result.

St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School in Burlington had two new COVID-19 infections over the weekend.

Two classrooms were also closed.

Andrea Swinden, Halton Catholic District School Board's spokesperson, saidpublic health is not declaring an outbreak at the schoolon Kenwood Avenue near Lakeshore Road because there's nothing that links the cases.

There's also no word on if the infected individuals are students or staff members, whenthey were last on campus, how long they've been self-isolating, how they got the virus and who may have come in contact with them.

The first case atSt. Patrick's, part of the Halton District Catholic School Board, came on Thursday, Sept. 24.

Nelson Secondary School in Burlington reported a second case of COVID-19 on Sunday, but in a message to families, said the individual wasnot in school last week and didnot have contact with others in the school.

5 newCOVID cases in Niagara schools

FerndalePublic School,St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Elementary School,Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary and Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School sent notices to families over the weekend about coronavirus cases.

St. Vincent and Holy Cross reported one new case each on Saturday, Sept. 26 while Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary reported a case on Sunday.

Students and staff at St. Vincent and Canadian Martyrs wereexposed to the virus according to releases from theNiagara Catholic District School Board.

Meanwhile at Holy Cross,"Niagara Region Public Health has investigated this case, and has determined there is no risk of exposure" to students and staff."

On Sunday night, the District School Board of Niagara said an individual at Ferndale tested positive. Three classes have closed.

The new cases come after Eastdale Secondary School in Welland, which currently has an outbreak, announced late Friday it had a third case of COVID-19.

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