There are now a dozen Tri-City schools listed by Fraser Health for possible exposure to COVID-19.
That's double from the six institutions included in the Tri-City News' last report four days ago (Dec. 14), including some with multiple dates as recent as Monday (Dec. 13).
Fraser Health says the alerts are issued as students and staff at each facility may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive for the virus.
Ten are members of School District 43 (SD43):
COQUITLAM
- Nestor Elementary: Dec. 13
- R.C. MacDonald Elementary: Dec. 10, 13
- Walton Elementary: Dec. 10
- Montgomery Middle: Dec. 13
- Pinetree Secondary: Dec. 10
PORT COQUITLAM
- Ecole des Pionniers de Maillardville (SD93): Dec. 9
- Hope Lutheran Christian (Independent): Dec. 8–10
- Riverside Secondary: Dec. 6–7
- Terry Fox Secondary: Dec. 8–10
PORT MOODY
- Aspenwood Elementary: Dec. 7–8
- Heritage Mountain Elementary: Dec. 3, 6, 8–9
- Moody Middle School of the Arts: Dec. 6
B.C. public health says 302 cases of COVID-19 involving the Omicron variant have been found across the province, including 58 within Fraser Health.
When an exposure event or lab-confirmed infection is found at Tri-City schools, Fraser Health says it follows rigorous steps:
- 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.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is reporting a 91.2 per cent first-dose immunization rate against COVID-19 among Tri-City school-aged children between 12 and 17 years old.
There is also an 88 per cent double-vaccinated average for the same age group.
As of this publication (Dec. 17), the Tri-Cities also posts a combined 24.6 per cent single-dose average rate for children aged five to 11.
The BCCDC's official data breakdown is as follows:
North Coquitlam
- 22 per cent of children aged five to 11 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Southwest Coquitlam
- 22 per cent of children aged five to 11 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 87 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- 23 per cent of children aged five to 11 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 86 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Port Coquitlam
- 22 per cent of children aged five to 11 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 91 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 87 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Port Moody-Anmore-Belcarra
- 34 per cent of children aged five to 11 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 92 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with at least one dose
- 90 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
