Woodcrest Public School shifted to virtual learning as more COVID-19 cases reported at Thunder Bay schools

Four Thunder Bay schools will be closed for in-person learning this week, with COVID-19 cases having been associated with a handful of other schools.

The Lakehead District School Board announced late Tuesday afternoon that Woodcrest Public School will be shifted to operate virtually, starting Wednesday, for at least the next week.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak for the school, after two additional individuals tested positive for the virus with a determination that spread within the school was likely in one of the cases.

It comes on the same day St. James Public School started operating virtually after an outbreak had been declared in the school on Monday night.

Two other schools — Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute and Kingsway Park Public School — were moved to virtual learning beginning on Monday after outbreaks were declared late last week and additional cases were confirmed over the weekend.

Also, on Tuesday, the board said two cases have been associated with Hammarskjold High School, but there is no evidence of spread within the school setting.

One case each was associated earlier this week with Ecole Gron Morgan Public School and the Lakehead Adult Education Centre. Cases had been previously identified associated with Valley Central Public School.

The Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board has cases associated with St. Martin School, where an outbreak was declared on Monday, along with St. Elizabeth, Pope John Paul II and Corpus Christi schools.