Woodstock school closed after COVID-19 outbreak declared

An elementary school in Woodstock, Ont. will close effective immediately out of an "abundance of caution,"after the region's health unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak on Thursday.

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) reportedan outbreak at St.Michael's CatholicElementary School after it was made aware of three positive cases at the school. It's thefirst school in the region to completely close due to active COVID-19 cases since classes reopened in February.

The decision to close the school was in part due to the cases affecting multiple classrooms, a spokesperson for the London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) said in a statement Thursday evening.

"Since the cases affect staff in multiple different classroomsthroughout the school as part of their regular duties, the LDCSB has made thedecision totemporarily close the school, effective immediately," LDCSBspokesperson Mark Adkinsonsaid in an email.

"This decision to temporarily close the school was made outof an abundance of caution to help ensure the health, safety and well-being ofall 400-plus studentsand staff at the school," he said.

St. Michael's will be closed until at least March 24, Adkinson said. In the meantime, students will continue learning remotely.

SWPH is looking intothe cases at this time and will be providingadvice andsupport to the school community. The health unit hadnine active COVID-19 cases, as of Thursday.