Positive cases of COVID-19 are increasing in schools in Quebec. The Montreal regional public health department closed six establishments and a secondary school in Estrie will be closed on Friday, due to the presence of the Omicron variant.
The Omicron variant has been detected in three of the six elementary schools closed in Montreal, according to what Montreal public health reported. Duty. “It is a situation which is constantly evolving, we must be extra careful”, mentions the spokesperson, Jean-Nicolas Aubé, adding that public health advocates a “suppressive” approach with Omicron. “As soon as there is an Omicron case, we close the class. It’s very fast, ”he says.
The Île-des-Sœurs elementary school, closed since December 6, has decided to extend the closure until December 22 and recommends screening all students and staff members who do not have it. been in the past 48 hours, according to a letter sent to parents.
According to Public Health, there are currently 115 outbreaks in elementary schools in Montreal, out of a total of 267 outbreaks “in environments” in Montreal. The spokesperson says the vast majority of outbreaks are small, with nine cases or less.
In Estrie, the CIUSSS was unable to provide an update on the outbreaks in schools on Thursday. But a letter sent Thursday to parents of Massey-Vanier high school in Cowansville indicates that a first case of Omicron detected forces the establishment to close tomorrow, time to assess the situation. “No outbreak in the school is observed for the moment”, one specifies.
For its part, the CISSS de Chaudière-Appalaches lists 170 outbreaks, including 82 in schools and 14 in early childhood centers, according to data sent to the Duty. The presence of the new variant was not detected.