Here's where covid cases are in Coquitlam area schools

Dramatic drop in COVID-19 exposures in Coquitlam area schools but some high schools still getting hit

60% fewer schools are on Fraser Health's exposure list since April when restrictions were tightened and vaccine campaigns rolled out in the Coquitlam area

Centennial secondary school in Coquitlam has several dates of COVID-19 in the past two weeks.School District 43 photo

Fewer Coquitlam area schools are seeing COVID-19 exposures in the classroom but some high schools are still getting hit — and some with multiple dates.

In Coquitlam, four secondary schools — including an independent school — as well as an elementary school, were flagged for COVID-19 by Fraser Health.

Still, situations where someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and was present in a Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam or Port Moody school are down dramatically and fewer letters are being sent out to families warning them of potential exposures.

It was just over a month ago when the Tri-City News reported that 25 local schools had been flagged by Fraser Health for a COVID-19 exposure; today, there are nine — a 64% drop.

At the time, Port Coquitlam was among the harder hit cities.

Since the municipality has been given vaccination priority due to high transmission, school cases are down to two from a dozen cases in mid-April.

Provincial restrictions put in place March 29 such as closing restaurants to indoor indoor dining, indoor church services and workplaces, also may have helped.

Starting Sunday, registered residents 18 years old and up who are contacted are eligible to book their vaccine.

Despite fewer exposures and vaccine campaigns, large grad and end-of-school events are cancelled, with celebrations going virtual or being held as a drive-thru or outdoors.

WHAT IS AN EXPOSURE?

A school “exposure” indicates a single person with a lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attended school during their infectious period.

A school “cluster,” on the other hand, indicates possible school-based transmission with two or more lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 attending school while infectious.

Finally, an “outbreak” at a school means “multiple individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” and that “transmission is likely widespread.”

According to Fraser Health, there were 21 clusters in Coquitlam area schools between Jan. 1 and March 7.

These are the school exposures as of May 7:

COQUITLAM

Centennial: May 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11

Dr. Charles Best: May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 10 and 11

Gleneagle: May 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 12

Our Lady of Fatima: May 7

Pinetree Way: May 5 and 6

Glen: May 11

PORT COQUITLAM

Riverside: May 3 and 6