Journal Staff
One student and one staff member at Queen Elizabeth II elementary school in Sarnia have tested positive for COVID-19, Lambton Pubic Health said today.
The health unit is working with the public school board to provide guidance on the outbreak, the third involving a local school since the pandemic arrived one year ago.
“The individuals who tested positive have been notified of their results,” said health protection supervisor Lori Lucas. “LPH is continuing to conduct case and contact management as part of the investigation.”
A school outbreak is declared when two or more cases are lab-confirmed within 14 days, and where at least one case could have reasonably been acquired at the school, the health unit said.
Earlier school outbreaks were declared at Great Lakes Secondary and Confederation Central elementary in late December and both were resolved in early January.
The case count continues to rise locally with 145 active cases today, compared to 98 on March 1, Lambton Public Health reports. The death toll stands at 46 with a total of 2,232 people infected.
First doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been given to 3,931 people, or about 3% of in Sarnia-Lambton’s population. Another 395 people have received a second dose.
For more on the local response, visit https://lambtonpublichealth.ca/
Meanwhile, Lambton Public Health is asking the public to be aware of COVID-19 vaccine scams making the rounds.
“Since the opening of our local Call Centre and online COVID-19 pre-registration for those 90 years of age and older (on Thursday) we’ve had several reports of seniors being contacted,” said health promotion supervisor Donna Schmidtmeyer.
“The public should know that Lambton Public Health does not charge a fee to pre-register for the vaccine, nor do we charge a fee for the vaccine itself. We will not ask you for any financial information whatsoever.”
Unless you have called to pre-register for the vaccine or signed up for pre-registration online, you would not be contacted and asked for any personal information.
If your gut is telling you something is off, it probably is, Schmidtmeyer said.
If concerned, call Lambton Public Health at 519-383-8331.