COVID-19 exposure notices have been sent out to four elementary school communities in Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam, the first time these schools have seen a coronavirus case.
However, only Alderson elementary in Coquitlam has dates for when someone was on the school ground during their infectious period: Nov. 30, Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.
The other three elementary schools, Walton and Parkland in Coquitlam and James Park in Port Coquitlam, haven’t had their dates posted to the Fraser Health web portal. However, the schools have been identified as having exposure notices on the School District 43 Facebook page.
Pinetree secondary school in Coquitlam, which has had exposures notices previously, also had an exposure notice sent out, according to the SD43 Facebook page, but the date of the possible exposure hadn’t been published on the Fraser Health school exposure portal as of Dec. 7.
The information comes as Fraser Health has announced it will be sharing information that should help families know if their child has been near someone who later tested positive for COVID-19.
In what the health authority describes as a “streamlined” process to “help reduce anxiety for the school community,” that generic notification will now be replaced with one of three letters:
1. Early notification letter (exposed): For potentially exposed individuals, cohorts and classes. The letter will indicate students should come to school and monitor for symptoms.
2. Early notification letter (not exposed): For those in another cohort or class which was not exposed but who may have been at the facility during the specified exposure period.
3. Early notification letter (general): For an individual not in a specific cohort who may or may not have been exposed to an infectious person. This may include someone like a school counsellor.
Also on the weekend, a Port Moody middle school was flagged for the first time as having a COVID-19 exposure. Moody Middle School of the Arts was hit with a coronavirus exposure on Nov. 30.
There are just two more weeks of school left before winter break. Meanwhile, a new education minister has been appointed. Jennifer Whiteside, a New Westminster MLA, is the new education minister, replacing Rob Fleming.
