Coronavirus: TVDSB confirms COVID-19 case at Saunders Secondary School

A student at Saunders Secondary School has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The Thames Valley District School Board confirmed on Wednesday that someone in the school is positive for COVID-19.

“Thames Valley is following all of the health and safety protocols recommended by public health and the Ministry of Education,” said Thames Valley education director Mark Fisher.

“Saunders Secondary School remains a safe place to attend school.”

The board said the school will remain open and school buses will operate.

The Middlesex-London Health Unit said investigators have determined that the student attended class while they were infectious and are working directly with them to identify their other close contacts.

“We’re working with the case directly and will be providing guidance to their close contacts today,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, medical officer of health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit.

“We’re seeing a very small number of cases being reported in schools and there’s been no transmission in these settings to date. That said, we and our school partners will continue to be vigilant.”

The MLHU said it is also working with the TVDSB and school administration to determine next steps.

Due to privacy considerations, the MLHU said it will not be disclosing publicly any further details about the case, including the student’s age, grade level or number of close contacts at the school.

At this time, only students and staff who are at risk will be contacted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit and will be asked to remain in self-isolation for 14 days.

This is the third person within the board to test positive for the virus. One of the other two cases involved a student at Mitchell Hepburn Public School in St. Thomas and the other case was at H.B. Beal Secondary School.​