Public Health closes local school due to COVID-19 outbreak

Waterloo Region – Due to the concern for widespread and rapid transmission of COVID-19, Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services is directing the closure of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School in Kitchener. Public Health is working closely with the school to ensure infection prevention and control protocols are implemented in order to protect staff, students and their families from exposure to the virus.

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Elementary School will be closed for in-person learning for at least 10 days starting Wednesday, November 24, 2021.

Currently there are 19 cases of COVID-19 at the school that have resulted in multiple cohort dismissals. To limit further spread, Public Health is also recommending Rapid Antigen Testing as part of return to school after the closure and will work with the school to distribute testing kits to families. 

“We are taking important and necessary steps to protect children, staff and the school community from exposure to the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Julie Emili, Associate Medical Officer of Health for the Region of Waterloo. “We are closing a school for the first time since the return to in-class learning this fall due to concern about the potential for widespread and rapid transmission of the virus.”

Waterloo Region will begin vaccinating 5-11 year olds on Friday, November 26. More information is available at regionofwaterloo.ca/ChildrenVaccine.

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