Niagara Region Public Health has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in student residences at Brock University.
There are currently 12 cases that are part of this outbreak, it said in a news release Friday. After learning the number of individuals testing positive for COVID-19 went from one on Wednesday, March 24 to 10 on Thursday, Brock University moved from Brock Stage 2 (Control/Red) back to Brock Stage 1 (Lockdown/Grey), a move supported by Public Health.
This means the few classes that were being offered on campus have now moved online until at least Monday, April 5, when a further update will be provided.
Additionally, on-campus common areas such as the James A. Gibson Library, Computer Commons and all athletic facilities, which had been operating under strict COVID protocols, have temporarily closed while contact tracing and further investigation continues.
The outbreak seems to be specifically centred around social activities of students over the previous week. The University and campus health services are working closely with Public Health to manage the outbreak investigation.
Public Health is currently contact tracing, and ensuring everyone who may have been exposed is notified and received proper guidance around testing and isolating.
A number of students living in Brock residences are now isolating in on-campus, self-contained quarantine residence units, which had been set aside by the University as part of its pandemic planning. “
The University has taken swift and immediate action in consultation with Niagara Public Health to address the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff given these developments,” said Brock President Gervan Fearon.
Acting Medical officer of Health, Mustafa Hirji said, “Brock University has responded immediately to the outbreak on campus, and such swift action is key to controlling COVID-19 effectively.”
