COVID-19 outbreak declared at Mississauga elementary school with 20 positive cases

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board says Peel Public Health (PPH) has declared a COVID-19 outbreak at a Mississauga elementary school after 19 positive cases were detected among students and one infected staff member.

A spokesperson for the school board tells CityNews the outbreak at St. James Catholic Global Learning Centre was initially declared on Dec. 1, and the public health unit issued a letter a day later.

According to PPH, a school outbreak is declared when another student or staff infects one person within 14 days of exposure.

In the letter, the health unit told the community the outbreak was restricted to the Grade 4 and 5 cohorts, and everyone deemed at risk has been asked to self-isolate at home.

Those who have not been notified to self-isolate can continue going to school and must complete a daily COVID-19 screening.

If a student or staff fails the screening, PPH advises staying home, informing the school, and getting tested.

As of Thursday, one of the cohorts has returned to school, leaving the other in an outbreak situation resulting in two classes back to remote learning.

“Students in one of the dismissed classes are eligible to return subject to receiving a negative PCR test,” DPCDSB spokesperson Bruce Campbell said.

“The school remains open from a public health perspective to those students not required to isolate as Peel Public Health considers transmission to be effectively contained through the dismissal of classes where exposures have occurred. PPH advises that the risk of additional transmission based on current cases to be low, and they continue to monitor the situation closely.”

Campbell also confirmed there were no Omicron variant cases detected at the school.

CityNews initially reported on the outbreak last Friday when 15 positive COVID-19 cases were detected among students. Since then, the number of positive cases has been increasing almost daily.

Viewers and residents have expressed concerns to CityNews over the school staying open amidst the rise in numbers. Still, the school board said most teachers could instruct remotely and supervise those who continue to attend class in person.

“Based on this, there is no need to close the school from an operational perspective,” Campbell said.

The health unit said they have also advised siblings of exposed cohorts to stay home.

“Peel Public Health will continue to monitor the school closely, and if any additional cases arise that are not linked to the cohorts already involved, we will advise if additional measures or a closure is required,” a PPH spokesperson said in a statement.

The school board also offered all students the option of remote learning until the Christmas Break on Dec. 17.

The number of active confirmed COVID-19 cases connected to DPCDSB schools can be found on their website.