The case count is now at 23 after a COVID-19 outbreak was declared Saturday at a student residence in Peterborough, the region’s health unit announced Sunday.
Peterborough Public Health held a media conference on Sunday afternoon to provide more details on the outbreak declared at Severn Court student residence in the city’s west end.
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The 555 Wilfred Drive residence court consists of six buildings and is home to approximately 200 students from both Fleming College and Trent University.
The health unit said based on its initial investigations, several of the exposures occurred during a “private gathering” on Feb. 20. Details were not provided.
On Saturday, there were six confirmed cases, including a screened positive for a variant of concern whose type is not yet known as it undergoes further testing.
However, on Sunday, Dr. Rosana Salvaterra, medical officer of health, said the case count had jumped to 23. The health unit is working with both post-secondary institutions, and contact tracing continues.
“We have a large COVID-19 outbreak and it is continuing to evolve,” Salvaterra said. “At noon today, we had 23 cases identified. Nineteen cases were residents of Severn Court property and four are Trent students who are in self-isolation at the Otonabee (College) residence.
“I am not sure how many or who was at this gathering so we are still learning that,” she continued. “And I think some of those details will emerge as we follow up with the contacts.”
“It’s disappointing but not unexpected,” she added.
Fleming College president Maureen Adamson says the college is “deeply disappointed” in some of its students.
“We are deeply disappointed in the behaviour of Fleming students who were involved in this but I don’t believe for a minute that they represent the vast majority of our students,” she said.
A Section 22 order has been issued for Severn Court, closing all facilities to all visitors and requiring all residents to self-isolate.
Anyone who visited Severn Court between Feb. 20-27 is asked to self-isolate and get tested if they have COVID-19 symptoms, the health unit said.
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“This outbreak is very concerning not only because it involves a variant of concern and could lead to many more cases and high-risk contacts, but because it was also completely preventable,” Salvaterra said Saturday.
“In spite of this difficult situation, Severn Court Management Company has been incredibly responsive and are working very hard to help us contain the spread of the virus.”
Fleming has suspended all of its classes at the Sutherland campus in the city, impacting approximately 700 students and all placements, said Adamson.
“We have been in touch with our students’ faculty and staff throughout the weekend and we have set up a student COVID support line.”
— with files from Tricia Mason/Global News Peterborough