Multiple cohorts at Blessed Sacrament CES under COVID-19 outbreak (update)
Posted Nov 22, 2021 07:02:00 PM.
Region of Waterloo Public Health reported on its online COVID-19 dashboard on Monday that multiple cohorts at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener are under COVID-19 outbreak.
The data showed there are eight cases linked to the listed outbreak.
A spokesperson with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board told CityNews 570 that there are a total of three defined outbreaks in classes at the school.
Outbreaks are declared when two or more-lab confirmed COVID-19 cases in students or staff have an epidemiological link within a 14-day period.
The outbreak status only applies to the affected cohorts, and not to the entire school.
According to the WCDSB website, there have been nine student COVID-19 cases reported at the school since November 14.
Region of Waterloo Public Health provided the following statement to CityNews 570 on Monday afternoon:
“With respect to the multiple cohort outbreak at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, there are three separate cases that resulted in multiple cohort dismissals including three classroom cohorts, two bus cohorts and two extracurricular cohorts.
Public health will be implementing Rapid Antigen Testing in this school, known as the Test-to-Stay strategy, to help avoid a school closure. Participation is voluntary and is for asymptomatic and unvaccinated children who are not high-risk contacts. In order to continue in-person learning, 60 per cent cohort participation of all unvaccinated students in non-exposed cohorts is required.”
Public health added it is working closely with the school to ensure infection prevention and control protocols are in place to help limit further spread.
