Three new COVID-19 exposures at Tri-City schools

Coquitlam-area school-aged children reach 90% single-vaccination rate against COVID-19

This comes as Fraser Health lists three Tri-City schools for new exposures in the last week.

MoodyElementaryMapleCreekMiddleTerryFoxSecondarySD43

[From top to bottom] Moody Elementary, Maple Creek Middle and Terry Fox Secondary are all members of School District 43 (SD43).Google Maps/Edited by Kyle Balzer, Tri-City News

A significant milestone has been reached in the Tri-Cities' vaccination process against COVID-19.

As of today (Nov. 17), 90 per cent of eligible children aged 12 to 17 in the region have received at least one dose against the virus according to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), while 86 per cent have been jabbed twice.

This comes as the number of school exposures has been reduced in the week since the Tri-City News last reported on the subject.

There are nine institutions listed by Fraser Health where students and staff may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive for COVID-19, including three new ones all in School District 43 (SD43).

Eagle Ridge Elementary (Coquitlam), Maple Creek Middle (Coquitlam) and Moody Elementary (Port Moody) are the latest to be marked for exposure between Nov. 8 and 12.

You can view the full list of school exposures at the bottom of this article.

The vaccination numbers are broken down as follows by sub-region:

North Coquitlam

91 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
88 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Southwest Coquitlam

90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
85 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Southeast Coquitlam

89 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
85 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Port Coquitlam

89 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
84 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra

91 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
88 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose

It's also still unclear if SD43 will mandate vaccinations against the virus for its teachers and staff as other neighbouring districts are deciding against it, such as New Westminster, Surrey and Vancouver.

When an exposure event or lab-confirmed infection is found at a Tri-City school, public health says it follows rigorous steps as outlined below:

Public health will investigate to determine if there were any potential close contacts within the school
If it is determined that there are close contacts within the school, public health will notify the school administrators and request information to assist with contact tracing and provide guidance on what steps should be taken
Public health may then:
- Recommend 14-day self-isolation if necessary
- Recommend self-monitoring for symptoms if necessary
- Provide follow-up recommendations if necessary
Schools will ensure students who are required to self-isolate are able to continue their educational program. Together, schools and public health officials will determine if any other actions are necessary
Parents, caregivers and families will be notified by public health if their child is determined to be a close contact of a COVID-19 positive person

If you don't receive a phone call or letter from public health, Fraser Health explains children can continue to go to school but should also be monitored for the virus' symptoms daily, including fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing or loss of sense of smell or taste.