COVID-19 Outbreak Declared at Branlyn Community School
On September 21, the Brant County Health Unit declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Branlyn Community School in Brantford.
As outlined in the Ministry of Education’s Operational Guidance, an outbreak is defined as two or more lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in students and/or staff in a school with an epidemiological link, within a 14-day period, where at least one case could have reasonably acquired their infection in the school.
News of the linked COVID-19 case at Branlyn came today (September 21). The first case was identified from the same cohort on September 17.
Understandably, for privacy reasons, the identity of the COVID-19 cases will not be disclosed. These individuals have been directed by the health unit to self-isolate, along with any family members who reside in the same household.
Within the next 24-48 hours, the Brant County Health Unit will provide further direction and next steps via email to these individuals, including confirmation of their isolation period. If additional Branlyn students or staff are impacted, the Brant County Health Unit will advise as soon as possible.
Grand Erie has provided the health unit with class lists, transportation records and childcare information to support the Brant County Health Unit. The cases all occurred within the same cohort, so no additional contact tracing is required. Some of the cohort were already isolating at home as a result of the first cases identified.
Branlyn Community School remains open for those students and staff not required to self-isolate. Grand Erie custodians continue to complete their disinfecting of the school each night.
The school’s outbreak will be closely monitored and reported on by the Brant County Health Unit.
rand Erie District School Board represents more than 25,000 students in 58 elementary schools and 14 secondary schools within the City of Brantford and the counties of Brant, Haldimand, and Norfolk as well as secondary students from Six Nations of the Grand River and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. With a dedicated staff of more than 2,500, Grand Erie is committed to learning, leading and inspiring.