A Coquitlam high school and a middle school have been flagged for COVID-19 exposures in recent days, resulting in at least one individual self isolating to avoid further spread of the virus.
Today, Dec. 2, Dr. Charles Best parents were emailed an early exposure notification of someone in the school community who tested positive for COVID-19 and was on school grounds Nov. 25, 26 and 27.
“They are self-isolating at home with support from the local public health team,”states the letter from principal Heather Murphy, which was emailed to the Tri-City News.
The letter sent out today, Dec. 2, further states contact tracing is currently underway by health officials.
The health authority will determine if anyone in the school community is a close contact that is required to self-isolate,” the letter further states.
In addition to Dr. Charles Best, which is located at 2525 Como Lake Ave., had exposures on Nov. 23 and Nov. 24, according to Fraser Health.
A middle school nearby has also had an exposure notice; Hillcrest middle school is reported as having an exposure Nov. 20, according to Fraser Health.
November posted the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases in B.C. and, with the virus circulating in the community, a number of middle schools in School District 43 were reported as having individuals who tested positive on school grounds.
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.”
