1st COVID-19 case confirmed at Catholic elementary school in Windsor-Essex

The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board has confirmed its first student case of COVID-19 at one of its schools. It is also the first casereported in a school in the Windsor-Essex region.

The positive case at Stella Maris Catholic Elementary School inAmherstburg has promptedthe closure of the child's classroom.

The school was first notified of the diagnosis Tuesday morning, board officials said, adding classmates of the COVID-positive student were dismissed throughthe day and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.

"As soon as we were made aware of the positive casewe contactedthe health unit, where they worked with the school principal in who would be close contacts," said Melissa Farrand, the school board's COVID-19 lead.

The positive case has resulted in about 20 classmatesbeing sent into self-isolation, she said, adding that the student who tested positive forCOVID-19only attended school one day last week.

No details were provided on the grade level of the affectedclass, withschool board officials citing confidentiality.

The self-isolating classmates will be able to continue their curriculum through the digital Google Classroom platform, saidFarrand.

All other students at the school, however, will attend class as usual, unless asked not to by the health unit as its contact tracing investigation continues.

The news comes on the same day that the University of Windsor reported its first case of COVID-19 in a student.