Effective immediately, Bkejwanong Kinomaagewgamig and Anishinaabeg Kinomaagewgamig students on Walpole Island will be dismissed and will revert to remote learning as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, Walpole Island officials announced on Friday, March 5, 2021.
“If no further concerns are identified we expect to reopen in-class learning on March 17, 2021,” James Jenkins, director of operations, said in a letter posted on social media.
“One student has been confirmed positive with COVID-19 and another student is pending results of a COVID-19 test. There is no known or suspected transmission of COVID-19 having occurred within the school and for that reason an outbreak has not been declared under the school Outbreak Management Plan.”
Jenkins said potential contacts from classrooms and buses will be notified and the contact tracing is currently being managed by Lambton Public Health, while Walpole Island Health Centre staff perform community vaccination.
“The anticipated reopening day of March 17 is intended to provide a 14-day monitoring timeline from the last day that infection could have potentially occurred at the school in accordance with the school Outbreak Management Plan,” Jenkins added.
“Home learning devices will be deployed, and distance learning will occur during the whole school dismissal.”
Walpole Island officials said on Thursday there were four active COVID-19 cases on the First Nation reserve.
Walpole Island officials say if residents are experiencing symptoms, they should self-isolate immediately and call the Walpole Island Health Centre at 519-627-0765 or after hours, call Telehealth at 1-866-797-0000.
For more details, visit:Â https://www.walpoleislandfirstnation.ca/covid19
