2 Hamilton students test positive for COVID-19, McMaster reports 8th case linked to campus

Two elementary students in Hamilton have tested positive for COVID-19 and McMaster University has reported its eighth case of the virus.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) says a student at Ridgemount Elementary School and another at Helen Detwiler Elementary School have been infected — the first confirmed case at both schools.

The Ridgemount student was last in the building on Oct. 27, according to a letter sent to families by principal Gord Carey Thursday.

“School administrators have notified all impacted families and staff members who are identified as a close contact,” he wrote, adding public health is carrying out contact tracing and will reach out to anyone who was exposed.

“The students and staff members associated with the confirmed case will self-isolate for 14 days.”

Helen Detwiler principal Michael Azzopardi also notified families and caregivers Thursday that a student there had tested positive.

That person was last in the school on Oct. 23, but public health has determined no other students or staff are considered close contacts, he wrote.

“The student was not in the building when there would be a risk of exposure,” it reads. “As such, [public health] considers the risk to other students and staff low.”

Following confirmed cases, the HWDSB says it follows a “detailed cleaning and disinfecting protocol.”

Parents and caregivers are asked to continue carrying out daily screening before students come to school if they’re not showing any symptoms.

McMaster reports new case linked to campus

McMaster announced the eighth case of COVID-19 linked to its campus Thursday.

In an update for students, the university said it was notified Wednesday that an employee with an external company who had been at the school has tested positive.

“The individual was last on campus on Oct. 26, and prior to that, Oct. 22, in several areas of the Nuclear Research Building,” it says. “All areas of the building have since been thoroughly cleaned.”

CBC