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There have been dozens of cases of COVID-19 at schools in the London region since students returned to class in September, but Northside Christian School is the first to close by order of a health unit.
Rehoboth Christian School in Norwich voluntarily closed earlier this month following a number of COVID-19 cases, Southwestern Public Health said.
Klassen also appealed to residents of Huron and Perth counties to follow public health guidelines so the region can return to the green-prevent tier of provincial COVID-19 restrictions. Huron Perth moved to orange-restrict following a surge of cases, many of them at Cedarcroft Place retirement home in Stratford.
“I’m very concerned that people in Huron and Perth are becoming complacent about following our public health recommendations. We are in the midst of the second wave and need everyone’s participation to flatten this curve,” she said.
“I understand that this pandemic has been going on for a long time and many of us are frustrated or fed up. . . . I’m urging everyone to hang in there – follow our public-health measures – and let’s get our region back to green.”
Klassen said another staff member at Cedarcroft Place has tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the number of cases to 44 residents and 20 staff in an outbreak declared Oct. 27.
“It’s just another reminder again of how easily this virus can transmit, particularly in closed congregate settings,” she said of the latest staff infection.
Eleven residents have died and two residents and two staff have active COVID-19 cases.
Huron Perth has had a total of 293 cases.
