Four schools have been identified as having a probable case of COVID, Kincardine District Secondary School (KDSS) and St. Anthony’s, both in Kincardine, Harvest Canadian Reformed School in the municipality of Georgian Bluffs and Edge Hill Country School to in the municipality of West Grey.
Regarding KDSS, the individual with COVID-19 has been contacted directly by our COVID-19 Case and Contact Management Team. We have worked with the individual and the school, along with the school board 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 case have been excluded from school at this time.
In the case of St. Anthony’s, the Grey Bruce Health Unit is working with Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board and associated bus company to address a probable case. While there is an individual with probable COVID-19 associated with this school, our assessment, to date, indicates that transmission did not take place within the school environment. Currently there are no outbreaks (i.e. evidence of transmission from person to person) in any schools or childcare centres in Grey Bruce. A single bus route is involved with this case. In this situation, the individual with probable COVID-19 has been contacted directly by our COVID-19 Case and Contact Management Team. We have worked with the individual 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 and bus contacts that have been identified as contacts to the case have been or are in the process of being excluded from school at this time.
At Harvest Canadian Reformed School, the individuals with probable COVID-19 have been contacted directly by our COVID-19 Case and Contact Management Team. Working with the clients and the school, we have identified any others, both in and out of the school environment, who may have been exposed to determine their level of risk. While there is an individual considered a case of COVID-19, our assessment, to date, indicates there is no evidence that transmission took place within the school environment. Currently there are no outbreaks (i.e. evidence of transmission from person to person) in any schools or childcare centres in Grey Bruce. No bus routes are involved with this case.
Determining who has had close contact is a decision that can only be made by Public Health. Anyone at heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission due to close contact to a person with COVID-19 will be contacted by Public Health within 24 hours of the investigation.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit will direct those considered at risk regarding testing requirements and recommendations (e.g., timing). There is no value in anyone being tested before they are notified and instructed to do so by Public Health. Results of early testing are unreliable and place individuals at risk of more testing than is required.
As a reminder to the public, if you develop symptoms consistent with COVID-19, please proceed to your nearest assessment centre for testing.
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.
