NORTH PERTH – As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to roll out for ages 5-11 within the Huron-Perth region, it should perhaps come as little surprise that the virus and its Delta variant strain in particular have targeted the largely unvaccinated elementary school demographic of late.
As of Dec. 7, Elma Township Public School (ETPS) in Newry reopened after being first placed in active outbreak on Nov. 23 by the Avon Maitland District School Board in conjunction with Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH). ETPS’s active case count reached 27 on Monday, with HPPH reporting 26 student cases and one case involving a teacher.
North Perth Westfield Elementary School in Listowel was also declared in outbreak as of Nov. 30, with 10 cases reported. Westfield’s before/after school program also reported two student cases, while the North Perth Spinrite Child and Family Centre has three active cases.
The Huron-Perth vaccination rate for children aged 5-11 is still in its preliminary stages after being approved for distribution in late November and currently stands at 20.4 per cent of the demographic receiving one dose, but Dr. Miriam Klassen, HPPH Medical Officer of Health, said cases will certainly decrease as the rollout continues, just as they did amongst high school populations.
“That’s already a great start. I’m pleased with that,” Klassen told the Banner on Dec. 6. “What we have seen all along through the pandemic has been more transmission in elementary school settings.”
In youth aged 12-17, the COVID-19 vaccination rate for one dose stands at 76.3 per cent; fully-vaccinated individuals at 73.7 per cent.
Seventy-seven per cent of all Huron-Perth residents aged five and up are now fully vaccinated, but Klassen said that shouldn’t deter everyone from continuing to follow Public Health measures, as evidenced by the latest spike in Huron-Perth.
As of Monday, there were 76 active cases of COVID-19 in the region, over half of them located within North Perth.
“It’s really important for everyone to realize that we’re still in the pandemic, and the fourth wave is driven by the highly-transmissible Delta variant,” said Klassen. “It’s going to find people who are susceptible – people who aren’t vaccinated, and the people who don’t have as strong an immune response for a variety of reasons – and especially where there are pockets of people like that.
“We’re going to continue to see clusters of cases, particularly when the weather turns colder and activities are moving indoors.”
Westfield Elementary remains open for the time being, as two factors typically drive the decision to close a school. One being that Public Health has concerns about adequately controlling transmission; the other is that logistically the school would be unable to properly staff and supervise the student population, with proper cleaning and sanitation measures also being met.
“It really is a last resort measure, we really want to keep the schools open,” said Klassen.
Klassen also called upon residents to be cautious over the coming holiday season, as larger gatherings could further add to the growing case count in Ontario. She also said it’s still wise to work from home when able and to limit contacts as much as possible, as more cases of the highly-transmissible Omicron variant are gradually becoming more prevalent.
“I’m calling on everyone to really rethink their social plans and really be choosy,” she said. “If you have the opportunity to go to five holiday gatherings that are all within the proper capacity limits, do you need to go to all five, or can you go to less.
“With more gatherings indoors, we expect there to be an increase in cases. We wouldn’t see the same rise in hospitalizations and deaths, because of high vaccination rates. It’s a little bit in our hands now.”
