FLETCHERS LAKE: A person connected to Holland Road Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a letter to parents of students at the school, the school confirmed they were advised of the positive test by N.S. Public Health. As a result, the school will be closed to students until at least Wednesday, April 28. This will allow for a deep cleaning and time for Public Health to engage in contact tracing.
“For families with children in the EXCEL program, the program will operate today before closing until school reopens,” the letter said.
Public health did confirm the positive test late Thursday night in an email to The Laker News asking for confirmation after receiving screenshots from several parents of the letter the school sent.
Students at HRES will learn from home until in school resumes.
They also announced four other cases in schools in the Central Zone. They include:
— Dartmouth South Academy, Dartmouth
— Ross Road School, Westphal
— St. Catherine’s Elementary, Halifax
— St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary, Halifax
The HRES letter said while the school is closed, HRES staff will support students to continue their learning.
“We will provide an update to families on Tuesday regarding school reopening,” Principal Carol Anne Larade said.
The letter continued: “When a COVID-19 case is identified in a school, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education takes direction from Public Health. Their team is now working to identify any students and staff who may have been in close contact with the confirmed case.
“If your child is identified as a close contact, Public Health will communicate with you directly. If Public Health does not contact you, it is because your child is not considered a close contact.
“However, out of an abundance of caution, Public Health is recommending that all students and staff at Holland Road be tested for COVID-19, whether or not you have symptoms.”
“If your family needs food as a result of this closure, you can call 211 and let them know you are part of our school community. A navigator will be able to help by arranging for a food box to be delivered to your home free of charge by Feed Nova Scotia.
“We understand you may feel anxious over the coming days. It is natural to want to know if your child may have been exposed to the virus. Public Health officials will inform those who are at risk of the next steps, but to protect the privacy of students and staff, other details including names, will not be released.
“Children look to the adults in their lives to guide them on how to react to worrying and stressful events. I encouraged you to speak with your children about any anxieties and remind them that school is a safe place to be.
“Please continue to monitor your child(ren) daily for signs or symptoms of COVID-19, using Nova Scotia’s daily checklist at: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/docs/Daily-COVID-checklist-en.pdf .
“If your child(ren) has or develops signs or symptoms as described on the checklist, complete the COVID-19 self-assessment online at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/en or call 811 if you are unable to access the online tool.
“Everyone should get tested regularly for COVID-19. Even if you have no symptoms or only mild symptoms, you should get tested.
“You can book an appointment for a standard test at a primary assessment centre. Rapid testing is available without appointment at pop-up sites for people who are 16 or older and have no symptoms.
“Visit the Nova Scotia Health Authority website for more information about testing. Please do not call 811 for general information about testing. Only call 811 if you can’t book a test online.”
Larade encourage all families to visit https://www.ednet.ns.ca/backtoschool/ where they can find information and resources for you and your family.
Public health also said the following:
Dartmouth South Academy and Ross Road School are closed to students and those schools are moving to at-home learning for a two-week period. They are both part of the families of schools that were included in the restrictions announced earlier today.
St. Catherine’s Elementary will remain closed to students until Wednesday, April 28. Students will learn from home until the school reopens.
St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary is currently closed due to a previous case and is expected to reopen on Monday, April 26.
As with any positive case, public health will be in touch with any close contacts of these people and advise of next steps, including testing. Everyone who is a close contact will be notified, tested and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
Out of an abundance of caution, public health is recommending that all students and staff be tested. No self-isolation is required, unless people have been identified as a close contact by public health or have symptoms.
Information about COVID-19 cases connected to public schools can be found at: https://www.ednet.ns.ca/backtoschool/case-info.
Because these cases came in after the cut-off for daily COVID-19 reporting, they are not included in today’s case update and will not appear on our data website, dashboard or daily COVID-19 case release until Friday, April 23.
