A COVID-19 school outbreak has been declared at A.A. Wright Public School in Wallaceburg.
Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit officials say the outbreak was declared on Friday, March 19, 2021 and involves five total cases.
“There are currently three class cohorts and two bus cohorts isolating regarding the positive cases at A.A. Wright, which is currently impacting approximately 50 people overall,” Jeff Moco, a spokesperson for CK Public Health, told the Sydenham Current.
Lambton-Kent District School Board officials say the five confirmed cases involve students.
“Chatham-Kent Public Health is working closely with the school community and is contacting any individuals, students and staff, who may have been in potential contact with the virus,” officials from A.A. Wright posted on their school website, adding that the school will remain open.
“Chatham-Kent Public Health is working directly with the school to contact those who have been in close contact and to provide further directions. If you have not been contacted, you have not been in close contact with the confirmed case. As requested prior to the start of the school year, please continue to monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19. If your child is ill, please keep them at home and call your health care provider or local health unit.”
In a letter posted on the school website, Dr. David Colby, Medical Officer of Health for Chatham-Kent, said people with COVID-19 may have little to no symptoms.
“Some symptoms are similar to the common cold or flu,” Dr. Colby said.
“Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe.”
Dr. Colby said the most common symptoms include:
– Fever
– Cough
– Difficulty breathing
– Change in smell or taste
“The coronavirus spreads from close contact with the respiratory droplets of a person infected with COVID-19,” Dr. Colby said.
“Respiratory droplets can include coughing, sneezing, talking and normal breathing. It is possible for a person to get COVID-19 by touching surfaces that have the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.”
School board officials say there are also confirmed cases among two students at H.W. Burgess in Wallaceburg and two student cases at Wallaceburg District Secondary School. There is also one confirmed student case at Lambton-Kent Composite School in Dresden.
To view the full update across the school board, click here.
