3rd COVID-19 case at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School as outbreak continues

The outbreak atSir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School has grown after a third staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

It's the third case at the school.

The school emphasizes there are no student cohorts impacted because all infected staff "did not provide direct instruction to students," according toprincipalGreg Moore.

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) said it's working withthe school and public health to ensure "appropriate measures are in place to prevent the spread of illness to other students or people in the school community."

"Please continue to have your child attend school, unless of course you are a close contact and directed otherwise by HPHS, monitor for symptoms, and perform daily screening for COVID-19 symptoms."

It is thesecond COVID-19 outbreakHamilton's public school board hasfaced this week after two staff members and a student atAdelaide Hoodless Public School got the virus.

It's the third outbreak at HWDSB since the start of the pandemic.

4 other COVID-19 cases in schools

Waterdown District High Schoolhas its third student case of COVID-19 since Monday, but the school says the cases aren't linked.

"School administrators have notified all impacted families and staff members who are identified as a close contact. The students and staff members associated with the confirmed case will self-isolate for 14 days. Public health will connect with close contacts as part of their contact tracing process," says a letter to families from principalTheresa Sgambato.

Two Catholic school students atSt. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School tested positivethe virus, but one of them had no close contacts in school, which means the cases aren't linked and there's no outbreak.

The student who did have close contacts was in school on Wednesday, Nov. 25. It comes after a student tested positive on Nov. 29.

"Any students who are required to self-isolate will be contacted directly by Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS). Persons who test positive for COVID-19 may not return to school until they are cleared by HPHS," principalDeanDiFrancescosaid in a message to families.

A staff member atC Notre-Dame was diagnosed with COVID-19 and a classroom has been closed. A student at the same school tested positive oneweek ago.