KITCHENER —
Students in Waterloo Region were able to return to the classroom in early September, with staggered starts across different school boards designed to reduce the number of students learning new protocols at the same time.

Regional and provincial public health officials have both said cases in schools are all but inevitable.

According to public health guidance, a school will declare an outbreak if there are two or more cases of COVID-19 with an epidemiological link.

Still, Region of Waterloo Public Health officials have said they will get involved as soon as there’s evidence of a single case.

You can jump to the timeline of cases in schools around the region.

Here are the cases of COVID-19 reported in Waterloo Region schools to date:

Nov. 14: The outbreak at Avenue Road Public School in Cambridge has been declared over.

Nov. 13: The WRDSB said a staff member at Elgin Street Public School had tested positive for COVID-19. They were last at school on Nov. 9. Any high-risk contacts are asked to self-isolate until Nov. 24.

Officials also reported a case in a staff member at Mary Johnston Public School. That staff member was last at school on Nov. 6. Public health says there were no high-risk contacts at the school, because there was no exposure to other staff or students during the infectious period.

Nov. 12: A student at St. Gabriel Catholic Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. In a news release, the school said public health officials would be contacting high-risk contacts and asking them to self-isolate.

Nov. 11: The WCDSB reported another case of COVID-19 at St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School. It’s the second case at that school in as many days.

Nov. 9: The WRDSB said two students at Lincoln Heights Public School have tested positive for COVID-19.

The school board said the two students haven’t been at the school since Nov. 6. Health officials haven’t declared an outbreak at the school. Any high-risk contacts, including staff members and students, have been asked to self-isolate and return to school on Nov. 24.

The school board also confirmed a case of COVID-19 in a student at Westheights Public School. They were last in class on Nov. 5. All high-risk contacts, including staff and students in the identified cohort, should self-isolate until Nov. 20.

The WRDSB also reported a case in a student at William G Davis Public School. Officials say they student was last at the school on Nov. 5, and any high-risk contacts should self-isolate until Nov. 20.

The WCDSB also reported a case of COVID-19 in a student at St. Benedict CSS, and another case in a student at Our Lady of Grace CES.

Nov. 8: The region’s public school board is reporting three COVID-19 cases at its schools.

A student at Lexington Public School in Waterloo has tested positive for the disease. The individual was last in the building on Nov. 6. This is the second COVID-19 case confirmed at the school this month.

Two other cases were also reported, including a staff member Abraham Erb Public School in Waterloo and a student at Galt Collegiate Institute in Cambridge.

Nov. 6: Health officials identified a COVID-19 case in a student at Lexington Public School. The student hasn’t been in the school since Nov. 2.

All high-risk contacts have been asked to self-isolate until Nov. 17, the WRDSB said in a news release.

The region’s Catholic school board also reporting a COVID-19 case in a student at St. Mary’s High School.

Nov. 5: Health officials declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Avenue Road Public School after a second student in an identified cohort tested positive for the disease. The first case was reported on Oct. 31.

A staff member at Southwood Secondary School also tested positive for COVID-19, the school board said. They were last in the building on Nov. 2.

Health officials said anyone identified as a close contact should self-isolate until Nov. 16.

Nov. 2: The Catholic school board reported one case of COVID-19 in a student at St. Dominic Savio Catholic School on Nov. 2. It was the 11th case of COVID-19 reported in a Catholic school in the last month.

Nov. 1: Two more students in WRDSB schools tested positive for COVID-19, the school board confirms. Queensmount Public School and Huron Heights Secondary School both reported that one student had contracted the disease.

On the same day, the Waterloo Catholic District School Board also reported another case of COVID-19 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Elementary School, the second in a staff member. It’s not known if the latest case is related to the ongoing outbreak or not. Our Lady of Grace has had a total of four cases to date: two in students and two in staff.

Oct. 31: WRDSB has confirmed cases at two of its schools: one in a student at Manchester Public School and another in a student at Avenue Road Public School.

Oct. 30:  Public Health has COVID-19 declared outbreaks at Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School in Cambridge.

Oct. 29: Region of Waterloo Public Health declared an outbreak at an Catholic elementary school in Kitchener. The outbreak at Our Lady of Grace CES was declared after two more cases in the same cohort as the case that was identifed on Oct. 23.

Public health officials also identified a staff member with COVID-19 at Lexington Public School. The staff member was last at the school on Oct. 26.

All high-risk contacts should self-isolate on Nov. 9.

Oct. 26: The Waterloo Catholic District School Board reported two more cases of COVID-19 at its schools: one in a student at Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School, and another at St. David Catholic Secondary School.

Oct. 25: Public health officials were notified about a case of COVID-19 in a staff member at Our Lady of Grace School on Oct. 25.

Oct. 24: Waterloo Catholic District School Board confirmed a student at Saint John Paul II Catholic Elementary School tested positive for COVID-19. They say proper protocol is in place and staff and students can expect to return to school on Monday.

Oct. 23: The WRDSB reported a COVID-19 case in a student at Janet Metcalfe Public School. The student was last at school on Oct. 20. All high-risk contacts from their cohort should self-isolate until Nov. 3.

The Catholic school board confirmed a case in a student at Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School on Oct. 23.

Oct. 21: There was a COVID-19 case confirmed in a student at Tait Street Public School. The student hasn’t been to class since Oct. 13. High-risk contacts in the identified cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 27 and will be contacted by public health.

Oct. 20: The WRDSB said a student at Wilson Avenue Public School has tested positive for COVID-19 and was last in the building on Oct. 8.

Any high-risk contacts in the identified cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 22, according to public health.

Oct. 19: Public officials said a student at Galt Collegiate Institute has tested positive for COVID-19. That student was last at school on Oct. 13. All high-risk contacts in the identified cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 27, health officials say.

Oct. 18: A student at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School tested positive for COVID-19. According to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, the student was last in the building on Oct. 8, and all high-risk contacts have been contacted. The Waterloo Region District School Board reported a case of COVID-19 in a student at Westmount Public School in Kitchener.

Oct. 15: Keats Way Public School announced that one of its students had tested positive for COVID-19. The school said that the student hadn’t been at school since Oct. 2, and that public health had identified no high-risk contacts.

There was also a COVID-19 case confirmed in a student at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute. The WRDSB said the student was last in the building on Oct. 14. All high-risk contacts in the identified cohort have been contacted and should self-isolate until Oct. 28.

Oct. 14: The Waterloo Region District School Board reported a case of COVID-19 in a student who goes to Elmira District Secondary School. The student was last in the builindg on Oct. 7. High-risk contacts have been dismissed and asked to self-isolate until Oct. 21.

Oct. 13: Officials with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board reported two cases of COVID-19 at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Elementary School.

Public health officials also confirmed a student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute. The student was last at school on Oct. 8, the WRDSB said. High-risk contacts from the identified cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 22.

Later on in the day, officials reported a case at Groh Public School in Kitchener. In that case, the infected student had not been in the school since Oct. 9. Those from their cohort considered high-risk are advised to self-isolate until Oct. 23.

Oct. 10: An outbreak has been declared at JF Carmichael Public School in Kitchener after two students tested positive for COVID-19. The outbreak was declared over on Oct. 16.

Oct. 8: A student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute has tested positive for COVID-19. The WRDSB said the student hasn’t been in the building since Oct. 2. High-risk contacts in the identified cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 16.

Oct. 6: The WRDSB said a student at Eastwood Collegiate Institute has tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last in the school on Sept. 28. Public health officials said all high-risk contacts in the student’s cohort should self-isolate until Oct. 12.

Health officials also reported another case at Huron Heights Secondary School. This is the fifth student who has tested positive at the school to date, but there is no epidemiological link between the cases, according to public health officials.

Oct. 5: Another student has tested positive for COVID-19 at Huron Heights Secondary School. The student was last in the building on Sept. 25 and there are no high-risk contacts identified inside the school.

It’s the fourth COVID-19 case to date at the school. Public health has not declared an outbreak. A spokesperson for the WRDSB said there is no epidemiological link between any of the cases.

Oct 3: Two cases have been reported at French Catholic school École élémentaire catholique Cardinal-Léger in Kitchener and an outbreak has been declared.

The COVID-19 outbreak at Kitchener Collegiate Institute has been declared over.

Oct. 2: Public health officials confirmed a student at Huron Heights Secondary School had tested positive for COVID-19 and was last in the building on Sept. 18. Public health officials said a cohort was potentially exposed to the case during the infectious 14-day period, but because it was only told of the case recently, no further isolation is required. Officials will be calling families of students in the identified cohort to follow up.

This is the third student reported at the school so far with a COVID-19 case. The first was reported on Sept. 21 and the second on Oct. 1. Region of Waterloo has not declared an outbreak at the school.

Oct. 1: The WRDSB confirmed a student at Huron Heights Secondary School had tested positive for COVID-19. The student was last in the school on Sept. 25. Health officials have told all high-risk contacts in the cohort to self-isolate until Oct. 10.

Sept. 30: The WRDSB reported a COVID-19 case in a student at Conestogo Public School. Health officials haven’t identified any high-risk contacts in the school and the student hasn’t been to class since Sept. 18.

Sept. 29: Public health officials confirmed a COVID-19 case in a staff member at Moffat Creek Public School. The WRDSB said the identified cohort and some other staff members have been told to self-isolate by public health. The staff member hasn’t been at the school since Sept. 25. Public health will contact any close contacts.

Sept. 25: Public health officials declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School after a staff member tested positive for the disease. The WRDSB said the staff member was in the same cohort as the student who had a confirmed case earlier in the week. The school will remain open.

Sept. 23: A student at St. David Catholic Secondary School tested positive for COVID-19. The Waterloo Region District Board also reported another case of COVID-19, this time at Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School.

Sept. 22: Two students at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute have tested positive for COVID-19. The school board said they haven’t been in the school since Sept. 16 and there are no high-risk cases in the school.

There was also a confirmed case announced at Forest Hill Public School. There are no high-risk school contacts associated with that case, and the student hadn’t been at school since Sept. 14.

The WRDSB identified a COVID-19 case in a student at Preston High School. The student was last in class on Sept. 16. The student’s cohort and some bus riders have been told to self-isolate until Sept. 30.

Sept. 21: The WRDSB reported a case in a student at Cambridge’s Clemens Mills Public School. The student was last at the school on Sept. 14 and there are no high-risk school contacts.

There is also a confirmed case at Forest Heights Collegiate Institute. That person was last at school on Sept. 15. Public health officials haven’t identified any high-risk school contacts associated with the case.

The WRDSB reported another student COVID-19 case, this time at Huron Heights Secondary School in Kitchener. The student was last in the building on Sept. 17.

The school board also reported a case at Williamsburg Public School. The student was last in the building on Sept. 18.

Sept. 20: The Waterloo Region District School Board reported its first student case of COVID-19, with a positive case identified in a child at Riverside Public School.

Sept. 16: A kindergarten student at St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Cambridge tested positive for the disease, forcing the entire class to self-isolate and get tested. Chantele Ristovksi says her daughter, five-year-old Olivia, was in the class where the infection was discovered.

Sept. 6: Before schools had even reopened, a staff member at Waterloo’s Edna Staebler Public School tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The Waterloo Region District School Board said the school was closed for extensive cleaning before reopening after the Labour Day long weekend.