March 17th, 2021

Region of Waterloo Public Health has determined that a student, last in the Southwood Secondary School building on March 12 is being treated as a presumed positive case of COVID-19. The identity of the individual is protected by privacy legislation and will not be shared.

Public Health has identified all high-risk contacts of the presumed case and will provide individual guidance to them. High-risk contacts include some staff and students who have all been notified and directed to self-isolate.

If you are not contacted by Region of Waterloo Public Health, you are not considered a high-risk contact. Public Health works with the school to identify high-risk student and staff contacts of the presumed case to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in students, staff and the community.

Public Health is treating every single case of COVID-19 as a potential variant of concern before a variant is identified. As a result, our public communication will indicate only that a positive case has been identified. For all cases of COVID-19, Public Health is conducting enhanced case and contact management.

Staff Resources

Please continue to self-screen (using the COVID-19 School Screening Tool) and monitor your health daily, practice hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and other infection control and prevention measures. If you experience symptoms consistent with COVID-19, access the COVID-19 Self-Assessment on the Public Health website and follow the direction given. Please visit the COVID-19 Health, Safety and Wellness Handbook for WRDSB Staff for guidance, wellness resources and information.

Community Resources

Please continue to monitor and screen your child for symptoms of COVID-19 daily and visit our COVID-19 webpage for more information about what this means for students.  In accordance with guidance from the Ministry of Education, the Confirmed Cases of COVID-19 page will be updated on an ongoing basis with information regarding confirmed cases of COVID-19 involving a student or staff member in a school setting. For all cases of COVID-19, Public Health is conducting enhanced case and contact management. For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Region of Waterloo Public Health website.

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