A staff member at Saint Francis Catholic Secondary school in St. Catharines has tested positive for COVID-19.

The individual is believed to have had limited exposure to staff and students when they developed symptoms on March 12. The person had not been travelling prior to falling ill. A letter from the school and Niagara Region Public Health has been sent out to all Saint Francis Catholic students and staff on Thursday.

The letter does not name the staff member but advises the effected community to self-monitor for symptoms for the next 14-days. Students or staff who show symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to self-isolate and call their local public health and emergency services.

"The health, safety and well-being of our students and staff is of paramount importance to Niagara Catholic,"

said director of education John Crocco in a press release. "We pray for the complete recovery of our staff member, and for the continued health and safety of all of our Niagara Catholic community."

The school's principal, Jim Whittard, said no other Catholic schools visited Saint Francis in the period before the staff member developed symptoms.