Two outbreaks declared in two days at Hamilton elementary schools

Hamilton public health has declared two COVID-19 outbreaks at elementary schools in two days.

An outbreak was declared at Lawfield Elementary School on the east Mountain on Wednesday after two students tested positive for the virus.

An outbreak was also declared at South Meadow Elementary School in Stoney Creek, where there are three student cases.

School administrators will contact any students or staff identified as close contacts, who will self-isolate for 10 days," reads a statement on each of the schools' websites.

Five new student cases have been declared in recent days at Tapleytown Elementary School in Stoney Creek, where an outbreak was declared Sept. 17. There are a total of nine cases at the school.

There are ongoing outbreaks at St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School, Huntington Park Elementary School and Shannen Koostachin Elementary School.

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."

Since Sept. 4, there have been seven outbreaks at Hamilton public and Catholic schools.

The public board has reported 47 cases - 42 students and five staff - and the Catholic board has reported 33 cases - 27 students and six staff.

The Catholic board currently lists 15 cohorts as closed.

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com