A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at a second Iroquois Falls elementary school.
There have been three confirmed cases that are linked at St. Anne English Catholic School, according to the Porcupine Health Unit.
The people are in self-isolation at home. The health unit is monitoring the cases and following up with students and staff who are close contacts.
Because of the variants circulating in the community, the health unit is recommending all students and staff self-isolate until April 24.
Earlier this week, an outbreak was also declared at Iroquois Falls Secondary School after three people tested positive and the cases were linked.
Students are not in school this week due to the April break. When school returns Monday, April 19 it will be remotely. The province has not said when in-person learning will return.
This is the second outbreak reported in the region today.
There is also an outbreak at Glencore's Kidd Mine in Timmins where three employees are confirmed cases. There is also an ongoing outbreak among staff at Black River-Matheson Township.
Today, 25 new cases of the virus were reported in the health unit region. Sixteen of those are in Timmins, and nine are in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls. All of the people are in self-isolation.
To date, there have been 448 confirmed cases of the virus in the region. Of those, 359 are recovered and 25 people have died. There are 64 known active cases — 39 in Timmins, 23 in the area of Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls and Smooth Rock Falls, and two in the Hearst, Hornepayne area.
There are COVID-19 assessment centres in Timmins, Cochrane, Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Kapuskasing, Smooth Rock Falls, Hearst, and Hornepayne, as well as communities on the James Bay coast.
The Porcupine Health Unit COVID-19 information line can be reached at 705-360-4819 or 1-800-461-1818.
People eligible for a vaccine can register for upcoming clinics in the region here. Select pharmacies are also delivering the vaccine. Find a list of those and book an appointment here.
