The Middlesex-London Health Unit was notified late yesterday that an additional member of the Sir Arthur Currie Public School community has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases associated with the school to two; these cases appear to be associated with one another. Since there is evidence of transmission between these cases, the Health Unit is declaring an outbreak to help raise further awareness and to limit any further spread of the virus within this school community.

The declaration of an outbreak at Sir Arthur Currie does not mean the school is closing; the school will remain open. Only those staff and students in classrooms identified as having close contact with the cases will be excluded from attending school. The declaration of a COVID-19 outbreak at the school is an indication that Health Unit investigators have observed a higher rate of infection than would be expected, combined with evidence that transmission is occurring.

“The declaration of an outbreak in this situation was a critical step in taking the necessary steps to address the spread of coronavirus within this school community,” says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “This is not an indication of widespread illness at the school. All contacts of the cases have been notified directly.”

The Health Unit continues to work with Thames Valley District School Board administration and members of the school community to provide additional support to affected families, students and staff who have been excluded from school as part of the outbreak management.

The MLHU recommends the following to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection:

• Stay home from work or school if you become ill.
• Ensure close contact is limited to those in your household. If you live alone, consider having close contact with one other household.
• Maintain 2 metres physical distance from anyone who is not in your household.
• Wear a mask no matter where you are, or what you are doing (leaving the house, going to the store, interacting with colleagues at work or in the breakroom).
• Avoid non-essential travel to the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal.
• Only visit an Assessment Centre to get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19, have been contacted by the Health Unit or received notification through the COVID Alert app of close contact with a confirmed case.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or use a waterless hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol content.
• Cover coughs and/or sneezes with your sleeve or cough into your elbow.
• Clean high-touch areas, such as doorknobs in public spaces, frequently.
• Download the COVID Alert mobile app to be notified if you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and to let others know if you test positive for the virus.

For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s website at www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus.

Media Contact:
Elizabeth Milne, Communications Supervisor, Middlesex-London Health Unit
519-617-0564 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit