A London Catholic secondary school has become the fifth in the region to declare a COVID-19 outbreak this week.
The Middlesex London Health Unit announced the outbreak at St. Thomas Aquinas secondary school on Friday after two people tested positive for the virus. The health unit has determined the virus spread between the close contacts at the school, with other possible sources of transmission ruled out.
"It’s through following up with cases that we learn more about the individuals involved and their close contacts. We start to see links emerge that help us understand how this virus is passed from person to person,” Dr. Alex Summers, associate medical officer of health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit, said in a statement. “It’s our conclusion that COVID-19 was passed from one case to another at St. Thomas Aquinas. However, because we’ve already identified and excluded their close contacts at the school, there is no need for further action by staff or students, other than to monitor themselves for the development of symptoms."
The Oxford street school will remain open and buses are operating as usual. Only students and staff in classrooms identified as being in close contact with the infected individuals have been told to stay home.
Outbreaks are declared when there are two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases over a 14-day period with evidence of transmission within the school.
On Wednesday, outbreaks were declared at Sir Arthur Currie Public, Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary, Westminster Secondary, and Ashley Oaks Public. There is also an ongoing outbreak at St. Marguerite D’Youville secondary school. It was declared on November 30.
New cases were also confirmed Thursday at the London District Catholic school board's St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Elementary in London and the Thames Valley District school board's East Elgin Secondary in Aylmer.
The London District Catholic board currently has eight active cases with the full list available here. There are currently 30 active cases within the Thames Valley district. For the full list of confirmed COVID-19 cases within Thames Valley click here.
