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Two more Coquitlam area schools report COVID-19 exposures

Fraser Health urges testing and issues a call to refrain from parties while promising testing centres will stay open over the holidays
Diane Strandberg
Diane Strandberg
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Pinetree secondary school in Coquitlam and Heritage Woods secondary in Port Moody have had COVID-19 exposures in recent days.Google Maps

Exposure dates have been flagged at secondary schools in Port Moody and Coquitlam as Fraser Health begs families to avoid parties this holiday season.

Heritage Woods has been notified of an exposure on Dec. 4 while Pinetree secondary has exposure dates for Dec. 8, 9 and 10.

All cities and villages covered by School District 43 have been touched by the coronavirus, and there are a total of 12 schools listed on the Fraser Health school exposure website, including the two newest.

Other SD43 schools investigated for COVID-19 in December are: 

• Centennial, Dr. Charles Best and Terry Fox secondaries 

• Banting and Eagle Mountain middle schools

• and Panorama, Harbour View, Miller Park, Mundy Road and Irvine elementary schools

In a special news release Friday (Dec. 18), Fraser Health is asking people to avoid social gatherings with the phrase “don’t go, don’t throw and say no,” and is offering tips for staying connected during the winter break. 

It also promises people they can get testing when they need it over the holiday season.

TESTING STATIONS OPEN

People living in the Fraser Health region are urged to use the COVID-19 assessment tool and get tested as soon as possible when they have symptoms. 

Fraser Health’s COVID-19 test collection centres will remain open throughout the holidays, with some locations being closed on Dec. 25. Hours of operation are available on Fraser Health’s website.

In Coquitlam, the testing centre is located in the Coquitlam park-and-ride overflow lot (entry from Mariner Way) from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. You can book your appointment online at fraserhealth.secureform.ca

According to the health authority, a school “exposure” usually 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, and an “outbreak” indicates “multiple individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” and that “transmission is likely widespread.” 

There have been no clusters or outbreaks in School District 43 since school resumed in September.