The confirmation of two positive cases since Tuesday affecting the St. Theresa Catholic Elementary School community in Callander has led the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit to declare a COVID-19 outbreak.
A COVID-19 outbreak is declared in a school setting when two or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 have an epidemiological link.
“The outbreak is at a location where many of the individuals are not yet eligible to be vaccinated against COVID-19,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “We continue to work with St. Theresa Elementary School and the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and thank them both for their quick response.”
The Health Unit was made aware of the first individual's positive test result for COVID-19, Tuesday, Nov. 16. At that time, all parents and guardians were made aware of the result and the class was dismissed. Thursday, the Health Unit was made aware of a second individual who tested positive for COVID-19 from the same classroom.
In an effort to prevent the further spread of the virus, on Nov. 16, under the Health Unit's guidance, all parents/guardians of individuals who rode on East Ferris Bus Lines 203 were contacted to advise of the next steps. Then, on Nov. 18, as a result of the second individual testing positive for COVID-19, the same contact was made regarding individuals who rode on East Ferris Bus Lines 245.
Additionally, parents/guardians of individuals who attend the childcare program at the YMCA St. Theresa site have also been contacted and that program has been dismissed.
There are two other active outbreaks in the district, one at North Bay's Chartwell Barclay House and the other at Au Chateau in West Nipissing.
For more information on the outbreak and local COVID-19 cases, visit the COVID-19 Status Report dashboard at myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
