Two Niagara-area post-secondary schools and three Hamilton elementary schools are reporting COVID-19 cases from early October.
Brock University is reporting its third and fourth coronavirus cases but did not reveal whether they involved students or staff members.
The latest cases involved an individual who was last on campus Oct. 5, and another last at the school on Oct. 2.
The school’s previous cases in September involved students. The first, on Sept. 16, involved an off-campus student and another reported on Sept. 28 involved a student who was last on campus on Sept. 22
Meanwhile, Niagara College has its first coronavirus case. The school advised its community on the weekend that a member who tested positive for the coronavirus was last on campus at Niagara-on-the-Lake on Monday, Oct. 5.
The school also didn’t reveal whether the case was a student or staff member but said the individual is self-isolating as per Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) guidelines.
Public health says contact tracing involving the case is underway and that those deemed to be at risk will be contacted this week.
The college says members not contacted by NRPH are considered not to be at risk.
Both Brock University and Niagara College are delivering a majority of their programs remotely with some on-campus labs until at least the end of the winter 2021 term.
Outbreaks declared at Shannen Koostachin Elementary School and Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary in Hamilton
Hamilton’s two public school boards have each declared an outbreak at elementary schools.
The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) confirmed an outbreak at Shannen Koostachin Elementary School after administrators said two staff members came down with COVID-19.
The first case was last in the building on Oct. 7, while the second case reported on Tuesday was last at the school on Oct.12.
Public health says an investigation in to the novel coronavirus cases began on Monday and it will provide more information as updates become available.
As a precautionary measure, the administrative staff have told each staff member not to attend school for a 14-day period.
Meanwhile, the Hamilton Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) says a second staff member at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary has also tested positive for COVID-19 which now means the school officially has an outbreak.
The staff member was last in the school on Friday, Oct. 9.
In a letter to the community, principal Kevin Mielko said due to provincial guidelines the outbreak means students and teachers in the same classroom as the positive cases will now have to self-isolate and wait for further instruction from Hamilton public health (HPH)
“Students and staff should continue to attend school, unless directed otherwise by HPH, and to screen daily for COVID-19 symptoms on the provincial COVID-19 school screening website,” Mielko said in his statement.
Three cases reported at Bennetto Elementary School in Hamilton
Hamilton’s public school board reported four more COVID-19 cases on the long-weekend including three cases at Bennetto Elementary school in the city’s north end.
The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) says the three cases at Bennetto involved students while the case at Shannen Koostachin Elementary School involved a staff member.
In a letter to guardians, Bennetto said it learned about the positive cases on Saturday and that the students were last in the building on Oct. 5.
Public health began contacting students and staff who were close contacts as part of the contact tracing process on Tuesday. The agency says there were no close contacts through the child care program or student transportation.
Hamilton schools now have a combined 22 unresolved cases as of Oct. 13 at:
- Bennetto Elementary School: three cases
- Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School: one case
- Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School: one case
- Canadian Martyrs Catholic Elementary School: one case
- Frank Panabaker Elementary School (North Campus): one case
- Guardian Angels Catholic Elementary School: one case
- Huntington Park Elementary School: one case
- R. L. Hyslop Elementary School: one case
- Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Elementary School: two cases
- Shannen Koostachin Elementary School: two cases
- Sherwood Secondary School: two cases
- St. David Catholic Elementary School: one case
- St. John the Baptist Catholic Elementary School: two cases
- St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School: two cases
- St. Mary Catholic Secondary School: two cases
- St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Elementary School: one case
Hamilton has three active cases in child-care centres at:
- Hillfield Strathallan College: one case
- R. L. Hyslop: one case
- Umbrella Family on Templemead: one case
Cases in Hamilton-area post-secondary schools
McMaster University has reported five on-campus COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, while Mohawk College has reported just one — a confirmed case from Sept. 25 at the Stoney Creek campus.
Cases in Halton-area schools and daycares
Public Health Ontario says Halton public schools have reported a combined 37 unresolved cases as of Oct. 13 at the following locations:
Burlington – six
- Burlington Central Elementary (Grades 7 and 8): one case
- Frontenac Public School: one case
- Nelson Secondary School: three cases
- Sir E. MacMillan Public School: one case
Oakville – 16
- Abbey Park High School: one case
- Captain R. Wilson Public School: one case
- École secondaire catholique Sainte-Trinité: no case
- Emily Carr Public School: two cases
- Forest Trail Public School: one case
- Garth Webb Secondary School: one case
- Gary Allan High School: one case
- Heritage Glen Public School: one case
- Holy Trinity Catholic Secondary School: one case
- Pine Grove Public School: one case
- St. Paul Catholic Elementary: one case
- West Oak Public School: three cases
- White Oaks Secondary School — one case
Milton – six
- École élémentaire catholique Sainte-Anne: one case
- Escarpment View Public School: one case
- Le Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir: two cases
- Tiger Jeet Singh Public School: one probable case
- W. I. Dick Middle School: one case
Halton Hills – nine
- Acton District High School: one case
- George Kennedy public school (Georgetown): one case
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School (Georgetown): five cases
- St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School (Acton): two cases
Halton has five active cases in child-care centres at:
- Kids and Company (Burlington): one case
- Halton Hills Child Care Centre (Georgetown): one case
- George Kennedy YMCA Schoolage Program (Georgetown): one case
- Les Coccinelles (Oakville): one case
- Parkview Children’s Centre (Village School): one case
Cases in Niagara-area schools and daycares
Public Health Ontario says Niagara public schools have reported a combined 16 cases as of Oct. 13 at the following locations:
St. Catharines – six
- Eden High School: one case
- Ferndale Public School: one case
- Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School: one case
- Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School: one case
- St. Alfred Catholic Elementary School: one case
- William Hamilton Merritt Elementary School: one case
Welland – four
- Eastdale Secondary School: three cases
- l’École Élementaire Catholique Sacré-Cœur: one case
Niagara Falls – five
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School: three cases
- Saint Michael Catholic High School: one case
- Valley Way Public School: one case
Grimsby – one
- Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School: one case
- Park Public School: one case
The region has not reported any active cases in child-care centres.
Cases in Brant County schools and daycares
Public Health Ontario says Brant County public schools have reported a combined five active coronavirus cases as of Oct. 13 at:
Brant County – two
- Cobblestone Elementary School Brant: two cases
Brantford – three
- Assumption (Catholic) College School: one case
- St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School: one case
- St. John’s College: one case
Brant has no active cases in child-care centres.