**** HEALTH/WELLNESS MEDIA RELEASE
Two New Cases of COVID-19 Connected to Schools, St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Update
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Nova Scotia is reporting two additional cases of COVID-19, identified today, April 23, connected to Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro, Northern Zone, and Shipyard Elementary in Sydney, Eastern Zone. Neither person was in school today.
The schools will remain closed to students until Thursday, April 29. A deep cleaning will take place and students will learn from home during the closure. Families will receive an update before students return to school.
In addition, due to the number of close contacts connected to previously identified cases, and out of an abundance of caution, St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary in Halifax will remain closed to students until May 10. Families will receive more information from the school today.
As with any positive case, public health will be in touch with any close contacts of these cases and advise of next steps, including testing. Everyone who is a close contact will be notified, tested and asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
Out of an abundance of caution, public health is recommending that all students and staff be tested. No self-isolation is required, unless people have been identified as a close contact by public health or have symptoms.
Information about COVID-19 cases connected to public schools can be found at: http://www.ednet.ns.ca/backtoschool/case-info .
Because these cases came in after the cut-off for reporting, they are not included in today’s case update and will not appear on our data website, dashboard or daily COVID-19 case release until Saturday, April 24.
