COVID-19 Outbreaks in Schools

Parents, students and staff have an understandable interest in knowing when a COVID-19 positive case has been identified in their school. Any confirmed cases of COVID-19 that involve a student or a staff member in a school setting will be posted by the Ministry of Education.

Notice of any outbreaks in schools within the region of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) will be posted below.

Definition

An outbreak in a school is defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students and/or staff in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school (including transportation and before or after school care).

Management of COVID-19 in Schools

In the event of a confirmed case in a school, the EOHU will work with the school to determine epidemiological links (e.g., individuals in the same class, or that are part of the same before/after school care cohort, or that have assigned bus seats in close proximity to each other). The EOHU will determine which cohorts are high risk contacts requiring isolation. If the EOHU advises that a class, cohort or a school should be closed for a period of time, parents, students and staff will be notified immediately. (See the letter for parents on how public health and schools will manage any possible cases of COVID-19 at school.)

Notifying the School Community

Where a confirmed case of COVID-19 is a potential source of exposure to others in a school setting, the EOHU acts accordingly to notify those at risk of exposure. There may be variations in the delivery of notifications from case to case depending on the circumstances of the case in question. Where there is no risk of exposure, notification is not required.

COVID-19 Outbreaks in Schools

Data is published weekdays at 10:30 a.m.

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