Superintendent’s Office

October 9, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Yesterday evening Manitoba Public Health advised Hanover School Division of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in an individual from Kleefeld School. This is the first confirmed case in Hanover School Division, and we do expect there will be more over the coming months. Our schools are prepared for such a scenario and have plans in place to respond accordingly. As always, the safety of our students and staff is of utmost priority.

As noted in previous correspondence, within 24 hours of a confirmed COVID-19 laboratory test, Public Health begins an investigation to identify individuals who may have been exposed. Public Health has access to enrollment information such as school class lists and contact information for parents/guardians and staff. Anyone identified as a close contact of the confirmed case will be contacted directly by Public Health and provided instructions regarding self-isolation and COVID-19 testing. Public disclosure of identifying information (grade, cohort, and class) is at the discretion of Public Health and will not be released by Hanover School Division.

Be assured that Hanover School Division is working closely with Public Health to ensure necessary measures continue to be in place – to protect students and staff in all of our schools. When a confirmed case is identified, the school’s affected areas will undergo a deep cleaning, including electrostatic fogging (disinfects surface areas in minutes). Out of an abundance of caution, our cleaning staff will also implement additional cleaning of high-touch surfaces in the school’s affected areas.

We remind parents/guardians of students and staff to monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19. Review the self-screening checklist daily before attending school. Please use the Shared Health online self-screening tool to check if your child should be tested for COVID-19. If you have health-related questions or need more information, please call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257.

Each of us continue to have a significant role in helping to support public health measures and reduce the spread of COVID-19. As we head into the first holiday long weekend of the school year, Manitoba Education encourages you to consider how many people you have contact with outside your household. Please celebrate Thanksgiving responsibly, so that we can limit the spread of the virus in our communities, and by extension, in our schools. Dr. Roussin has encouraged Manitobans, and those visiting from out of province, to focus on the fundamentals to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This includes:

  • staying home if you’re sick, even if your symptoms are only mild;
  • washing/sanitizing your hands frequently;
  • covering your cough;
  • practicing physical distancing when you are with people outside of your household; and
  • wearing a mask in indoor public spaces in situations where you cannot physically distance, or as required by public health orders.

Manitoba Public Health has created an online page with more information on how to gather safely this Thanksgiving and at other fall events that are happening in our communities. This information can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/updates/holidays.html.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire staff of Hanover School Division, I hope you have a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving.

Respectfully,

Shelley Amos, Interim Superintendent/CEO
Hanover School Division

For additional information regarding protocols and safety procedures, please visit HSD.ca/COVID19

in: Superintendent's Updates