St. Francis Xavier College confirms 12 contaminated with COVID-19 after ring ceremony

St. Francis Xavier College in northeastern Nova Scotia has confirmed 12 members of its campus neighborhood have examined constructive for COVID-19 and are in isolation.

The cluster of circumstances was first reported Tuesday by provincial well being officers, however no numbers have been launched.

Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of well being, mentioned the cluster is said to the college’s graduate ring ceremony held on Friday and the sanctioned and casual social occasions held on and across the campus over the weekend.

Strang mentioned the official occasions revered public well being protocols requiring proof of vaccination and masking the place mandatory, however the province is investigating off-campus occasions that will not have complied with the principles.

Premier Tim Houston mentioned Tuesday that anybody caught violating the province’s well being safety measures can be fined.

The college in Antigonish, N.S., cancelled all courses Tuesday, nevertheless it mentioned examinations would start as scheduled on Thursday.

“Extra circumstances are anticipated within the coming days because the Public Well being investigation continues and others are examined,” the college’s president, Andy Hakin, mentioned in an announcement launched Tuesday evening.

“Public Well being has bolstered there isn’t a present rationale to interrupt our operational plans concerning providing in-person exams.

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Concern about COVID-19 in Nova Scotia childcare settings

Actually, it was famous that, along side mask-wearing, examination settings are usually a decrease threat surroundings, on account of bodily spacing and restricted interplay.”

Nonetheless, Hakin mentioned extra infections are anticipated within the coming days.

“Whereas we all know that information of those new circumstances will trigger anxiousness, please be assured that college officers proceed to work intently with Public Well being to watch the general standing of the outbreak,” he mentioned.

This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Dec. 8, 2021.