Second COVID-19 outbreak declared at A.A. Wright Public School

A new 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 Saturday, April 10, 2021 and involves two total cases.

“Chatham-Kent Public Health notified the Lambton Kent District School Board on April 8, 2021 that there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the A. A. Wright Public School community,” school officials posted on their website.

“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.”

At the time, school officials said the school would remain open.

However, the school is closed this week due to the scheduled ‘April Break’.

“Chatham-Kent Public Health is working directly with the school to contact those who have been in close contact and to provide further directions,” school officials say.

“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 on April 8, 2021, 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 in the letter.

“Symptoms range from mild – like the flu and other common respiratory infections – to severe.”

Dr. Colby added 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.”

This is the second COVID-19 outbreak at the Wallaceburg within the last month.

The first outbreak began on March 19, 2021 and was declared over on March 31, 2021. The first outbreak involved five total cases, public health officials say.

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