The Middlesex-London Health Unit has been notified that a member of the school community at Sir Frederick Banting Secondary School has tested positive for COVID-19. Health Unit investigators are working with the individual directly to identify and follow up with their close contacts. The Health Unit has also notified the Thames Valley District School Board and members of the Banting community and has provided instructions and advice about next steps.

“We are in the process of working with this individual to determine who their close contacts are. We’ve also been in contact with the School Board and are working with administration to make sure everyone has the information they need,” says Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. “Although the level of risk outside the group of close contacts is low, we are still asking members of the Banting community to monitor themselves for any symptoms of COVID-19 and seek testing should they develop.”

Due to privacy considerations, the Health Unit will not be disclosing any details about the case, including whether they are a student or member of the school’s staff.

The Health Unit recommends the following to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections:

• Ensure you only have close contact with those in your household. If you live alone, consider having close contact with one other household.
• Maintain a physical distance of 2 metres 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 Toronto (including the GTA, York and Peel Regions), Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal.
• Visit https://covidtestinglm.ca for information about London’s Assessment Centres. Seek testing if you have COVID-19 symptoms, have been contacted by public health or have been notified through the COVID-Alert app of close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or use a waterless hand sanitizer that contains at least 70 percent alcohol.
• 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.

Please note: The Health Unit will be limiting news releases to only communicate school-based outbreaks and not individual cases. Individual cases associated with schools will be added to the MLHU’s daily update under the School Settings tab on the MLHU website.

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

Media Contact:
Dan Flaherty, Communications Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit,
519-663-5317, extension 2469 or 519-617-0570 (cell)

Spokesperson:
Dr. Alex Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit