OTTAWA -- A student at Fellowes High School in Pembroke, Ont. has tested positive for COVID-19, the fifth case of novel coronavirus at the school.
The Renfrew Country and District Health Unit closed the high school on Wednesday until further notice after three staff members initially tested positive for COVID-19.
In a statement Friday morning, the health unit said it received notification of a positive COVID-19 test for a student. This is the first student to test positive for the virus.
"This individual is part of the initial small cohort of students identified at risk and now brings the total number of cases at Fellowes High School to five; one student and four staff members," said the health unit.
The health unit said on Friday that it has received negative test results for all but one other staff member and one other student in the original class that was exposed to the staff cases.
"We’re moving along. I’m keeping my fingers crossed but I think I’ll let the results speak for themselves in terms of how confident we feel in whether we have to take extra measures or not,” said Dr. Robert Cushman, Renfrew County's Acting Medical Officer of Health.
Dr. Cushman told CTV Morning Live on Thursday that 140 staff members and students at the school were going to be tested for COVID-19. Ninety-eight individuals were tested on Thursday, with another pop-up testing clinic for staff and students scheduled for Friday.
Speaking with CTV News Ottawa on Friday afternoon, Dr. Cushman couldn't say when Fellowes High School would reopen.
"We’re going day by day. I would hope that we’re going to be wiser on Monday morning and that will give us a better indication of where we need to go. But certainly this is going to take a bit of time to sort out."
