COVID-19 outbreak declared in public school, 46 students dismissed from Catholic school

An outbreak has been declared within a cohort at General Brock Public School in Windsor.

According to a statement from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU), there are at least two cases within one classroom.

The whole class has been dismissed and asked to isolate for 14 days as well as get tested for COVID-19.

The cohort affected was dismissed last week, the health unit said.

"The entire class cohort is considered high-risk for exposure to COVID-19 and the WECHU is working closely with the school and the Greater Essex County District School Board administrators to manage the outbreak, further limit the spread of infection, and ensure ongoing measures are maintained to protect students and employees," the health unit said in a statement.

The outbreak brings the number of schools in the region with active outbreaks to four.

Corpus Christi Catholic Middle School - Central Park Athletics Campus remains in outbreak with seven active COVID-19 cases plus one more in a second dismissal, according to the school board's website.

The outbreak at Frank W. Begley Public School is still considered active, though it is set to reopen Wednesday.

W. J. Langlois Catholic Elementary School was active as of Tuesday morning, but that status has since been rescinded. The school reopened Monday. 

46 students dismissed from Catholic school

Meanwhile, 46 students have been dismissed from St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School in Windsor after an individual tested positive for COVID-19, the Catholic board said in a news release Tuesday. 

A class cohort of 29 students and a bus cohort of 17 were sent home after the board learned of a positive COVID-19 case Tuesday morning, the news release states. A nurse from Windsor-Essex County Health Unit was on site to support the dismissal of students. 

The board said it is working with the health unit to provide a list of students and staff who might be directly affected. Those who are identified as potentially being in contact with the positive individual will be contacted by the health unit, the release states. 

As of Tuesday, according to the Catholic board's website, there are 19 active COVID-19 cases across nine schools. All schools remain open at this time.