7 more cases of COVID-19 associated with Hamilton schools

Two Catholic schools in Hamilton have reported second cases of COVID-19, but administrators say public health officials have yet to determine a link between them, so an outbreak has not been declared.

The cases at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Elementary School and St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School were two of seven cases recorded at schools in the city on Sunday.

A second staff member at Immaculate Heart of Mary, who was last in the building on Dec. 8, has tested positive.

"At this time, [public health] has not been able to determine if there is an epidemiological link between this and the earlier school case," read a letter to families.

St. Patrick has also seen a second student test positive, but "at this point, HPHS has not yet determined if this second case constitutes an outbreak," according to principal Michael Campbell.

That student was last at school on Dec. 4.

One other student and one staff member with the Catholic board have also been infected.

A student at Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School who was last in the building on Dec. 1 has tested positive.

The school says public health tells them there are no school-related close contacts and "no risk to the school."

Meanwhile, a staff member at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School has COVID-19.

That person was in the school on Dec. 9 and administrators say any students who need to self-isolate will be contacted by public health.

Public board sees 3 more cases

Three more people with Hamilton's public board have the virus.

Two students, one at Huntington Park Elementary School and the other at Westview have tested positive.

The board was notified that a staff member at Helen Detwiler Elementary School is also infected.

COVID-19 outbreaks at Adelaide Hoodless Public School and Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School were both declared over Sunday.

An outbreak at Lawfield Elementary School that began on Dec. 7 is ongoing.

4 cases at Guido de Brès

Four positive cases have been reported at Guido de Brès Christian High School over the past three weeks, according to principal Jason Heemskerk.

An outbreak has not been declared, but the school has shifted to online learning for the week before the holiday break.

Case on Welland campus

Niagara College says someone who visited its Welland campus on Dec. 8 has COVID-19.

The college says health officials confirmed the positive case on Dec. 12 and have contacted everyone who needs to self-monitor for symptoms.

On Dec. 12, Niagara Region Public Health confirmed that a member of the Niagara College community has tested positive for COVID-19. The individual is currently in self-isolation as directed by Niagara Region Public Health, and last attended the Welland campus on Tuesday, Dec. 8.

"If you have not been contacted, you are not considered to be at risk," reads an update posted on its website. "No additional members of the Niagara College community have been directed to self-isolate as a result of this case."