32 classes in Hamilton Catholic board affected by COVID-19 cases

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Published September 29, 2021 at 11:04 pm

Hamilton’s Catholic school board is disclosing that 32 classes have been affected by confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Wednesday was a relatively quiet day for new cases across both boards of education. Only six new cases were reported.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) COVID-19 advisory page shows only four new cases, which is the public board’s fewest single-day tally since having one case on Sept. 16. However, two staff members at Lake Avenue Public School in Stoney Creek, which already has a declared outbreak, are confirmed as having the respiratory virus.

The other HWDSB cases are at elementary schools: Cathy Wever in central Hamilton, and Dundana in Dundas.

The Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) says 32 of its classrooms are “impacted.” When a student tests positive, their class, or high school cohort, is closed but the school itself remains open.

The closures list (secondary school):

  • St. Jean de Brébeuf (5)
  • Bishop Tonnos (4)
  • Bishop Ryan (2)
  • Cathedral (4)
  • St. Thomas More (4)

Elementary schools:

  • Sts. Peter and Paul (4)
  • St. Patrick (3)
  • Immaculate Heart of Mary (2)
  • St. Martin of Tours (2)
  • St. John The Baptist (1)
  • St. Teresa of Calcutta (1)

The only new cases, though, were among a secondary school student at St. Jean de Brébeuf and an elementary school pupil at St. John Baptist. That was the also the lowest single-day count in the HWDCSB since Sept. 20, nine days ago. Both students had stayed away from school since Sept. 24.

The counts are likely higher than what the schools have conveyed. They do include any children who are infected but are who are also asymptomatic.

The Ontario school reopening plan expects students and parents to screen for COVID-19 before each school day, and for kids to stay home if they show anything resembling the symptoms. The Ontario government has also opted to not fund making rapid antigen testing available for free to parents whose are sending their vaccine-ineligible children to school.

The province says it is restricting a free rapid COVID-19 testing program to businesses. Nova Scotia is one province that has rolled out a pilot prooject that enables parents with children in pre-primary to Grade 6 receive free COVID-19 rapid testing kits.

— With files from The Canadian Press

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