COVID-19 ADVISORIES FOR THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
As per the requirements of the Ministry of Education, the COVID-19 Advisories page is available on our Board website as well as all RRDSB school websites (School COVID Status).
We will post information on this page if there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 that involves a student or a staff member in a school setting. If public health advises that a class, cohort or school should be closed for a period of time, parents/guardians, students and staff will be notified immediately.
Please note - In the interests of privacy, information provided to school communities will not identify the student or staff member that has received a positive COVID-19 test.
Operational guidance: COVID-19 management in schools - Find out what will happen if there is a coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak at a school.
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Active Advisories - There are two active advisories.
April 15, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program - Outbreak declared
We have received notification of another positive student case of COVID-19 associated with Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Emo. Due to multiple positive cases of COVID-19 within the school setting, the Northwestern Health Unit has declared an outbreak. The building is currently closed for spring break, and classes resume for virtual learning next week, so there are no classroom closures to announce. However, students at SCAP will not return to in-person learning until directed by NWHU (even if the province announces a return to in-person learning).
If your child has been in close contact with a confirmed positive case, NWHU will be in contact with you by the end of the day tomorrow. If anyone in your household develops symptoms, everyone in the household will be required to isolate.
As outbreaks have the potential to impact the whole school, if any student or staff has any symptoms of COVID-19, they should isolate and get tested. Everyone should continue to follow the Stay at Home Order, limit close contacts, and monitor for symptoms.
If you have questions, please contact the Northwestern Health Unit at 1-866-468-2240.
April 13, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program
We have received notification of a positive student case of COVID-19 associated with Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program in Emo. All close contacts of the case are being called and given instructions by Northwestern Health Unit. We are working with the NWHU to make sure all potential risks are minimized.
Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
Due to our COVID-19 prevention strategies in place, those staff and students not contacted by public health are deemed to be at no additional risk. If your student develops any symptoms, please have them stay home and contact the local assessment centre to get tested.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
If you have questions, please contact the Northwestern Health Unit at 1-866-468-2240.
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Previous Advisories
April 11, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Donald Young School
We have received notification of a positive COVID-19 exposure of a staff member at Donald Young School. All close contacts of the case are being called and given instructions by Northwestern Health Unit. We are working with the NWHU to make sure all potential risks are minimized.
Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
We have confirmed that this case is not associated with the recent COVID-19 vaccination clinic held at the school.
Due to our COVID-19 prevention strategies in place, those staff and students not contacted by public health are deemed to be at no additional risk. If your student develops any symptoms, please have them stay home and contact the local assessment centre to get tested.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
If you have questions, please contact the Northwestern Health Unit at 1-866-468-2240.
April 11, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program
We have received notification of a positive COVID-19 exposure of a staff member at Sturgeon Creek Alternative Program. All close contacts of the case are being called and given instructions by Northwestern Health Unit. We are working with the NWHU to make sure all potential risks are minimized.
Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
Due to our COVID-19 prevention strategies in place, those staff and students not contacted by public health are deemed to be at no additional risk. If your student develops any symptoms, please have them stay home and contact the local assessment centre to get tested.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
If you have questions, please contact the Northwestern Health Unit at 1-866-468-2240.
March 5, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Mine Centre School
We have received notification of a student who has tested positive for COVID-19 at Mine Centre School. At this time, the Northwestern Health Unit has determined that there was no exposure to other students or staff in the school, and as a result, there are no classroom closures or additional steps required.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
Public health is working currently to identify anyone who is identified as a close/high risk contact of a positive case to provide next steps. Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
All students should continue to use the Government of Ontario’s school screening tool daily before attending school, while staff should use our Board screening tool.
If you have questions, please contact NWHU at 1-866-468-2240.
January 27, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Fort Frances High School
We have received notification of a positive COVID-19 exposure of a student at Fort Frances High School. All close contacts of the case are being called and given instructions by Northwestern Health Unit. We are working with NWHU to make sure all potential risks are minimized, including closing one classroom. All other classes remain open. Families of students in the closed classroom have been notified directly.
Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
Due to our COVID-19 prevention strategies in place, those staff and students not contacted by public health are deemed to be at no additional risk and can continue to attend school as usual. If your student develops any symptom, please have them stay home from school and contact the local assessment centre to get tested. All students should continue to use the Government of Ontario’s school screening tool daily before attending school.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
If you have questions, please contact NWHU at 1-866-468-2240.
January 21, 2021 - Notification of Positive Case at Rainy River High School - NO EXPOSURE
We have been notified of a case of COVID-19 associated with Rainy River High School. We are working closely with the Northwestern Health Unit and, at this time, their investigation is indicating that there was no exposure to students or staff in the school. As a result, there are no classroom closures required and students should continue to attend school.
Public health will contact anyone who is identified as a close/high risk contact of a positive case and provide next steps. Please note that a close contact is considered someone who has been within 2 metres of someone for longer than 15 minutes. Individuals passing by in a hallway are not considered contacts and have very minimal risk of spreading infection.
For reasons of privacy, we will minimize sharing personal information about any case and encourage others to avoid identifying individuals.
All students should continue to use the Government of Ontario’s school screening tool daily before attending school, while staff should use our Board screening tool.