Nine schools in WDGPH region reporting student COVID-19 cases

WELLINGTON COUNTY – One week after returning to class, nine schools in the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health (WDGPH) region, including three in Wellington County, are reporting student COVID-19 cases.

As of Feb. 15, the Upper Grand District School Board was reporting cases at each of the following schools:

• Erin District High School, one case, one class/cohort closed;
• JD Hogarth Public School in Fergus, two cases, one classroom closed;
• Sir Isaac Brock Public School in Guelph, all classrooms open;
• Priority Park Public School in Guelph, all classrooms open;
• Arbour Vista Public School in Guelph, one classroom closed;
• Minto Clifford Public School, one case, all classrooms open;
• Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute, one case, one classroom closed; and
• Westwood Public School in Guelph, one case, one classroom closed.

There are currently no cases reported in the Wellington District Catholic School Board.

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is reporting two student cases at St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School in Orangeville.

Across Ontario, 112 schools currently have active COVID-19 cases and three schools are closed due to outbreaks.

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Locally, students returned to in-class instruction on Feb. 8 after five-weeks of online learning due to the province-wide lockdown and stay-at-home order.

“Ontario is ready to open our schools because it is safe,” education minister Stephen Lecce stated during a Feb. 3 press conference announcing the return.

He noted “there is nothing more profoundly important” than protecting students.

The province initially introduced a one-week period of online learning (Jan. 4 to 11) as part of the lockdown that came into effect on Dec. 26.

That period was extended to coincide with the province’s second COVID-19 emergency declaration and a stay-at-home order issued on Jan. 14.

Prior to the Christmas break, 16 schools in the WDGPH region were reporting active cases and a total of 53 schools and five child care facilities in the region had reported cases since September.