COVID outbreaks at Hamilton school continue to grow

With kids on winter break, Hamilton school boards continue to report new COVID-19 outbreaks - and some existing ones continue to grow.

The city's schools have reported eight outbreaks - four public, three Catholic and one private - since the last day of classes on Dec. 17.

There are 19 active outbreaks in schools, which accounts for more than half of all outbreaks in Hamilton.

The largest is a Dec. 13 outbreak at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School in Stoney Creek, which has 13 students infected.

An outbreak at Holy Name of Mary Catholic Elementary School has grown to 11 cases since it was declared Dec. 14. An outbreak at St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School has also grown to 11 cases.

Ryerson Elementary School and Timothy Christian School each have outbreaks with seven cases.

Public health says about 85 per cent of outbreaks this year have been in elementary schools, where most students have only recently become eligible for vaccination. As of Dec. 22, 34 per cent of the five- to 11-year-old age group had received a first dose.

Local school boards, which have about 80,000 students combined, have reported a total of 285 cases - 154 at the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) and 131 at the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) - this month.

Meanwhile, the Manitoba government has delayed the return to school following winter break until Jan. 10 as the Omicron variant spreads.

As of Dec. 23, Ontario's provincial government has not announced any changes to return to school in January. Last week, Hamilton school boards asked students to take home personal belongings before winter break while public health recommended stricter COVID-19 measures for schools, including screening validation and vaccination for high-contact sports.

In a Dec. 20 email to The Spectator, HWDSB spokesperson Shawn McKillop said the board is preparing" for a return to classrooms on Jan. 3.

Although there has been no direction ... to close or move to remote learning after the break, we're ready in the event there is a provincial announcement," he said.

In an email, HWCDSB chair Pat Daly said circumstances have evolved significantly," but staff are still planning for a return to the classroom.

Kate McCullough is an education reporter at The Spectator. kmccullough@thespec.com