(file photo)
April 5, 2021
Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Guardians of Cobourg Collegiate Institute,
As always, the well-being of our students and staff is our top priority. With that in mind, we are letting you know that the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) District Health Unit has notified us over the last several days of a total of six confirmed cases of COVID-19 at our school. These individuals will remain at home until the Health Unit advises they may return to school. The identity of these individuals is protected by privacy legislation and cannot be shared. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.
We are working closely with HKPR District Health Unit to identify anyone at the school who may have been exposed to these individuals while they were infectious. On behalf of Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, we have notified all identified contacts with a separate notice to advise them of next steps.
The health unit has asked us to dismiss four classes that were identified as high risk contacts this weekend, and these families have already been contacted. It is important to note that an outbreak has not been declared at the school because in all cases there is evidence of exposure outside of the school.
We appreciate this news may be concerning for our students, staff and parents. We want to assure everyone that we continue to work closely with the HKPR District Health Unit to respond to this issue. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will take all actions recommended by public health, up to and including closing the school, to ensure student and staff safety. At this time, the school remains open.
I can also share with you that our school is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected each day. In addition to our daily pandemic cleaning protocols, which include increased cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces, and thorough cleanings in the evenings, KPR schools are regularly disinfected on a rotating basis with an electro-static sprayer. The Clorox Total 360 System is approved for use against the virus that causes COVID-19; it kills cold and flu viruses, MRSA and norovirus in two minutes or less, kills 99.9% of bacteria in five seconds and can even sanitize soft surfaces. It has been used effectively in schools and other education settings for several years. Our school will be disinfected by the electro-static tonight.
To protect yourselves, your children and the community, the Health Unit recommends that you: stay home if you are sick; complete daily self-screening; continue to physically distance from others as much as possible; wear a mask when indoors, on a bus, or when you cannot maintain a two metre distance outside; clean hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer; cough and sneeze into your sleeve; avoid touching your face; avoiding sharing personal items with others; and avoid close contact with anyone who is ill. For more information regarding COVID-19, please visit https://www.hkpr.on.ca/covid-19 For information in different languages, please visit Multilingual COVID-19 Resources | Public Health Ontario
We will continue to let families know of any further developments. If you would like further information on the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board’s COVID-19 protocols, please visit http://kprschools.ca/en/COVID-19.html
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Sincerely,
Jamie Patenall
Principal
Editor’s Note: Prior to receiving this e-mail from the school, Today’s Northumberland reached out to the HKPR District Health Unit to see if they could confirm there were six cases. Below is the reply received on Monday evening from Chandra Tremblay who is the Manager of Communication Services with the HKPR District Health Unit
Hi Pete – I will have to confirm with our staff tomorrow, but I see that is the number the school stated in a letter posted on its website today.
I will follow up and get back to you tomorrow.
Chandra
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
