Kitchener-Waterloo

COVID-19 case identified in kindergarten class at Cambridge school

St. Anne School in Cambridge reports there is a case of COVID-19 in a kindergarten class. It's the second case in a school in Waterloo region in two weeks.

2nd case previously reported at Waterloo school

A blue plastic cup, filled with coloured pencils, sits on a desk in a classroom. In the background, there are empty chairs at a desk, and books in cubby holes.
St. Anne School in Cambridge reports on its website that there is a case of COVID-19 in a kindergarten class, although it does not say whether it's in a teacher or student. (David Donnelly/CBC)

A COVID-19 case has been identified in a kindergarten class at a Cambridge elementary school.

It's the second known case in a school in Waterloo region this month.

A letter on the St. Anne School website, dated Wednesday, says the school was made aware of the case by Region of Waterloo Public Health. It does not say if the case is in a student or a teacher.

"Public health is in the process of contacting all high-risk contacts of the positive case by end of the business day tomorrow, and will provide individual guidance to them," the school said in the letter.

If people are not contacted by Region of Waterloo Public Health, it means their child or children are not considered to be a high-risk contact, the school said.

Students or staff at the school who develop symptoms are being advised to self-isolate and get tested for the novel coronavirus.

"In the event a cohort must self-isolate or the school must close, you will be notified by the school. The school will keep you informed about any plans regarding return to school," the school said.

The provincial website listing COVID-19 cases in schools does not yet list the Cambridge case, but does list a case in a staff member at Edna Staebler Public School in Waterloo.

Parents and caregivers are required to do daily assessments of their children before sending them to school, which includes checking for symptoms as well as taking their temperature.

The province launched a new voluntary school screening tool to help parents assess whether their child can go to school. Once the information is entered, it will either show green with the words "go to school" or the website will show a red banner that reads "do not go to school."

Parents enter information on the website, although the province notes the information provided "is not tracked or enforced."