Suspected Case of Omicron COVID-19 Variant Reported at Chapman Mills Public School

By Charlie Senack, Barrhaven Independent 

A suspected case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant has been detected at Chapman Mills Public School, according to an email obtained by the Barrhaven Independent. 

The letter was sent to some parents, but the Barrhaven Independent is not disclosing it as it shares personal information. 

When Ottawa Public Health was reached about the situation, they wouldn’t comment, however noted Ottawa currently has five cases of the Omicron variant, all of which are related to travel. 

Children at Chapman Mills Public School who have been identified as close contacts are being told to stay home and isolate until December 14, regardless of vaccine status. They can then only return to school  if they have a negative PCR test result and aren’t showing symptoms. If a test is not completed, they must continue isolating until Dec. 23. 

Anyone else who lives in the home is also being asked to isolate until their child receives a negative test result, or their isolation period is over. 

If the child is fully vaccinated, then others in the home don’t need to isolate if they aren’t showing symptoms.  

According to the OCDSB dashboard last updated Friday afternoon, Chapman Mills public School is reporting five active infections of the virus. 

Half Moon Bay Public School, which has been closed all week due to a COVID-19 outbreak, now has 29 active student student cases, one active staff case, and one active third party case. 

(OCDSB Photo)