Outbreaks declared at two Catholic elementary schools
Hamilton public health has declared COVID-19 outbreaks at two Catholic schools.
An outbreak was declared on Thursday at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Elementary School on the Mountain after two students tested positive for the virus - one on March 17 and one on March 25.
In a March 25 letter to families, the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic School Board said the outbreak is related to cohort that is currently in quarantine." There is currently one class or cohort closed, according to the board's daily COVID-19 advisory.
St. Kateri is listed on public health's website as having no variant" linked to the outbreak.
An outbreak was also declared at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Elementary School in Stoney Creek. Since March 22, two students have tested positive at the school. There are currently two classes or cohorts closed.
As of Friday, the outbreak at St. Clare was not listed on public health's website.
A school outbreak is defined by the province as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases ... with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school."
There are currently six ongoing outbreaks at Hamilton schools.
There is an ongoing outbreak at Westview Elementary School, which was declared on Wednesday. Since March 20, three students have tested positive for the virus.
Westview is listed as having no variant" associated with the outbreak.
Three outbreaks - all linked to COVID-19 variants of concern - were declared at Hamilton schools last week.
The largest is at Dr. J.E. Davey Elementary School in central Hamilton, which is currently closed to in-person learning until at least March 26.
The school has reported 12 cases - 10 students and two staff - since March 15.
Mountview Elementary School on the west Mountain and Greensville Elementary School are also in outbreak as of March 17 and March 18, respectively.
Mountview has had four cases - three students and one staff - since March 12. Greensville has had four cases - two students and two staff - since March 15.
Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Her work is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com