COVID-19 case confirmed at St. Elizabeth CES in Bowmanville

April 7, 2021,

The following letter was sent to the St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School community in Bowmanville, informing students, families and staff that an individual at the school has received a positive test result for COVID-19.

Dear parents, guardians, and staff:

As always, the well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. With that in mind, we are letting you know that we have been informed of a confirmed case of COVID-19 at St. Elizabeth Catholic Elementary School.

As directed by Durham Region Health Department, we have dismissed the individuals who were known to have been in close-contact with the person who is ill during their infectious period.

Those identified as close contacts will be contacted by the Durham Region Health Department and be provided further guidance. The individual who is ill is at home isolating and will return to school when they have recovered. The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.

Our school remains open. Staff and students who are NOT directly advised to stay home are deemed low risk, but should continue to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 daily.

Common COVID-19 symptoms include fever (temperature of 37.8 degrees Celsius or greater), new or worsening cough and shortness of breath. Other symptoms of COVID-19 can include sore throat, difficulty swallowing, changes to sense of taste and/or smell, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and runny nose, or nasal congestion (not caused by seasonal allergies). For more information about COVID-19, please visit www.durham.ca/novelcoronavirus.

If staff or students develop one or more symptoms, immediately self-isolate, call Durham Health Connection Line (DHCL) at 1-800-841-2729 and seek testing.

As always, before attending school, please continue to complete the daily self-assessment available at: https://covid-19.ontario.ca/school-screening/ and remember to inform us if your child will be absent from school.

We will continue to follow all health precautions at the school, including thorough cleaning and disinfecting of all areas; frequent and proper handwashing by everyone in the building; wearing masks; maintaining physical distancing to the fullest extent possible, and following any other steps directed by the health unit.

We will continue to let families know about any further developments. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

Sincerely,

Gerard van den Wildenberg
Principal