An elementary school on Coquitlam’s west side is the latest to be flagged for a COVID-19 school exposure.
Fraser Health’s website notes that someone who tested positive for the coronavirus was at Roy Stibbs elementary school (600 Fairview St.) on Nov. 9.
Currently, there are seven schools now listed on the website with exposure dates ranging from Nov. 9 to as recently as Nov. 17.
This is the second time Fraser Health has issued an exposure notification at Stibbs; the school was previously listed on the health authority’s COVID-19 portal for exposure on Oct. 16.
On the weekend, Summit middle school was listed as having a COVID-19 exposure.
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.”
Some local parents have recently expressed their frustration in delayed notification of school exposures. After hearing parents’ concerns, one of Fraser Health’s medical health officers told the Tri-City News the health authority is striving to reduce lag time
“We are closing the gap certainly in public health in trying to get those early notification letters out sooner,” said Fraser Health medical health officer Dr. Ariella Zbar, who works with a hub dealing with COVID-19 exposures in schools.
However she also noted that the faster people get tested if they have symptoms, the faster the cases can be confirmed and notices sent out to parents.
Fraser Health school exposures:
Map by Gary McKenna/Tri-City News
