After a seemingly quiet week with little new COVID-19 cases reported within the local public school board, nine new cases popped up on Thursday.
The Thames Valley District School Board recorded the nine probable cases at five schools. An outbreak was also declared at Algonquin Public School in Woodstock which reported two new cases Thursday for a total of three active cases.
The other cases were identified at Huron Park Secondary School in Woodstock, Thamesford Public School in Thamesford, Valleyview Public School in Ilderton and two more cases were linked to Wilberforce Public School in Lucan, which closed this week due to the growing number of cases.
"If you do not receive a letter from Thames Valley indicating the public health unit has identified your child as a close contact, your child is not considered to be at risk," a statement from the TVDSB read. "Only those staff and students who have been identified as a close contact will be notified and advised to stay home from school and quarantine for a period of 10 days."
The school board said the local health units will investigate the cases and follow up with those directly in need of specific testing advice.
There are currently 54 active COVID-19 cases at Thames Valley schools in London and the surrounding area. All new cases can be found on the school board's website.
