School District 43 will be relying heavily on public health officials for guidance if a confirmed COVID-19 case turns up at a Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody or Anmore school.
And while strict protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are in place — from learning groups, to physical distancing, hand hygiene, masks where two metres of distance can’t be maintained, plastic barriers in some cases, removing extra furniture and extra cleaning — it’s still possible a case could materialize over the coming weeks to months.
In some provinces, where schools are already in session, some cases have already materialized, and in B.C., a public exposure among staff and students recently occurred at a private K-12 school in West Vancouver while they were off-site at a day camp.
When a case tests positive, public health officials will be taking a lead role, according to a new provincial protocol, and here’s what will happen.
• If someone tests positive, public health will investigate whether they were in close contact with others at your school. They may ask those who came into close contact with the confirmed case to stay home until the investigation is complete. And to help with contact tracing, public health officials may ask for bus and class lists.
• If there are close contacts of a positive COVID-19 case, those people will be asked to self-isolate for 14 days. Others may be asked to monitor for symptoms. Meanwhile, students who have to self-isolate will be provided with at-home learning support.
Public health officials will be handling communication as well.
For example, under the province’s K-12 plan, it will be the regional health authority that will to approve communication about confirmed suspected cases in the school community and if media asks about suspected COVID-19 cases in a school or potential exposure situation, it will be up to the regional health authority to handle that request.
While not stipulated in the protocol, it’s likely Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry will report outbreaks as she continues to do for nursing homes, hospitals and some work places, such as at a poultry processing plant in the Tri-Cities.
Fraser Health CEO Dr. Victoria Lee has also been reporting on outbreaks in the region, which includes the Tri-Cities.
Schools and school districts will be expected to notify their local medical health officer if staff and/or student absenteeism exceeds 10 percent of regular attendance.
This reporting is considered critical for early identification of clusters and outbreaks.
School trustees will be discussing back-to-school measures, at tonight's Zoom board meeting. For the complete agenda, visit here.
