First confirmed COVID-19 case associated with Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

HAMILTON, ON – The City’s first positive case of COVID-19 associated with the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) was confirmed by local public health officials today.

Hamilton Public Health Services (HPHS) has confirmed a positive COVID-19 case of a staff member at the Umbrella Family and Child Centre’s of Hamilton’s Before- and After-School program at Templemead Elementary School. HWDSB is working with Public Health Officials to facilitate case and contact tracing. It is vital that personal health information and identifiers are not released, and the privacy of everyone involved is respected.

Quick facts

• HPHS is responsible for providing guidance to schools on COVID-19 case management, infection prevention and control, and outbreak control. They will also determine who needs to be self-isolated and the duration.
• HPHS will contact positive cases and work with the school board to identify any additional contacts who require follow-up and reach-out to them directly.
• HWDSB is responsible for cleaning and disinfection of any areas where symptomatic individuals were located, in addition to preventive measures to control outbreaks within the schools.

“Our priority is the health and safety of the children and staff in our before- and after-school program. We are working in partnership with the school board to ensure that we continue to follow all public health protocols and communicate information with families related to this confirmed COVID-19 case.” - Darryl Hall, Executive Director, Umbrella Family and Child Care Centres of Hamilton

“We know that families will be concerned, but it is important to be aware of confirmed cases, the risk of illness and how we all can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. We are grateful to have Public Health as a partner as we face this challenge." - Manny Figueiredo, Director of Education, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board

Additional resources

• www.hamilton.ca/coronavirus
• www.hwcdsb.ca
• www.hamilton.ca/SchoolReopening
• Status of Cases in Hamilton
• COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres in Ontario
• COVID-19 guidance: school outbreak management in Ontario