St. Martin Catholic Elementary school reporting nine COVID-19 cases

Niagara Region Public Health is offering COVID-19 testing to teachers at a Smithville elementary school.

A COVID-19 outbreak was declared at St. Martin Catholic Elementary School on Nov. 19.

Since then, the number of cases at the school has grown. There are now nine people who have tested positive for the virus.

A total of 9 of the 19 classes at the school have been asked to self-isolate.

Five classes came back Nov. 25, Another one comes back Nov 27, another on Dec. 1, and the final two at the end of next week.

The Niagara Catholic District School Board says some of the cases are directly related to the outbreak, while the origin is unknown for others.

The school remains open as they say there is no widespread transmission.

The outbreak of COVID-19 at St. Martin Catholic Elementary has grown. 9 people have tested positive. 9 of 19 classes in total have been asked to self-isolate. Bcs there is no evidence of wide spread transmission – school remains open. On-site testing avail for staff. @CHCHNews pic.twitter.com/5jgCUuAQqn

— Sylvie Lendvay (@sylvie_lendvay) November 26, 2020

Public health officials are facilitating on-site testing for staff members. This testing is voluntary. There will be EMS vehicles and staff in PPE outside the school Thursday.

Officials say there is no plan to do group testing of students. Parents who want to have their kids tested for COVID-19 can do so at a testing centre.