A fourth student at Adam Scott Collegiate Vocational Institute has now tested positive for COVID-19.
Peterborough Public Health confirmed the fourth case to kawarthaNOW on Monday afternoon (October 5) and says an investigation is ongoing.
On September 24th, the health unit notified school officials that three students at Adam Scott had tested positive for COVID-19.
In a subsequent media briefing the next day, Peterborough Medical Officer of Health Dr. Rosana Salvaterra said the three students were known to each other and all three cases were connected to travel outside of Peterborough.
Dr. Salvaterra said the health unit did not declare an outbreak at the school as it believed transmission did not occur at the school.
She also said contact tracing resulted in in a total of 40 people, mostly students but also some staff, being directed to self-isolate.
Information provided to kawarthaNOW by a source claims the new case is linked to siblings of self-isolated students who continued to attend classes. However, Peterborough Public Health did not confirm this information.
Later on Monday afternoon, Adam Scott principal Wilf Gray also confirmed the fourth case in a statement to families posted on the school’s website.
“That individual will remain at home until the health unit advises they may return to school,” Gray writes. “We are working closely with the health unit to identify close contacts who may have been exposed to the individual while they were infectious. The health unit has directed us to dismiss some students, and we have contacted families to pick them up.”
Gray states Peterborough Public Health is calling close contacts directly and advising them as to any next steps they must take, such as self-isolation and/or testing.
“The school is still open; unless you have been contacted by the school or the health unit, you should continue to attend school,” Gray writes. “Peterborough Public Health is continuing to investigate this situation, but, at this time, an outbreak has not been declared. An outbreak is only declared when there is evidence that transmission has occurred within the school.”
Gray also states that the school will be disinfected with an electro-static sprayer on Monday night.
“The Clorox Total 360 System is approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19; it kills cold and flu viruses, MRSA and norovirus in two minutes or less, kills 99.9% of bacteria in five seconds and can even sanitize soft surfaces. It has been used effectively in schools and other education settings for several years.”
This is addition to the school’s daily pandemic cleaning protocols, which include increased cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces, and thorough cleanings in the evenings.
This story has been updated with information from the letter from Adam Scott principal Wilf Gray.
