Tri-City schools are continuing to grapple with COVID-19 exposures as the region recovers from a devastating February that saw nearly 900 cases in the region and more than 100 school incidents flagged by the health authority.
As of Friday, March 12, Fraser Health reported 19 schools had COVID-19 exposures on school grounds during the first week of March — 17 in School District 43, covering Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody, as well as two independent schools.
Among the SD43 schools hardest hit last week, March 1-5, was Riverside secondary in Port Coquitlam, which had someone on school grounds who had tested positive every day of that week.
Still, it’s hopeful that exposures will drop as spring break, March 22-April 2, should act as a circuit breaker, as long as everyone sticks to provincial health orders and refrains from indoor gatherings.
Thursday, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated that outdoor groups of up to 10 would be allowed.
Those hoping to gather inside with groups beyond their own family bubbles will have to wait, though.
“This is slowly turning the dial, not flicking the switch,” B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a Thursday briefing.
The restrictions come as modelling from the BC Centre for Disease Control indicates a range of trajectories depending on the rate of contact infectious people have with others.
At an under 50% infectious contact rate, the model shows a downward trajectory of new active cases. But raise the rate of contact to above 60%, and the models show cases rapidly skyrocketing.
Here are the school exposure cases to March 12.
COQUITLAM
• Gleneagle secondary: March 3, 4
• Summit middle school: March 1
• Coquitlam River elementary: March 1 and 2
• Our Lady of Fatima (Indep): March 2, 3 and 4
• Panorama Heights: March 3,4,5
• Smiling Creek elementary: March 2
• Centennial secondary: March 3,4
• Leigh elementary: March 1
PORT COQUITLAM
• Riverside secondary: March 1, 2, 3 4, 5
• Terry Fox secondary: March 3, 4, 5
• Archbishop Carney secondary (Indep): March 1
• Kwayhquitlum middle: March 1, 2 and 3
• Citadel middle: March 3, 4
• Mary Hill elementary: March 1, 2
• Castle Park elementary: March 2, 3 and 4
• Hazel Trembath: March 4, 5
• Leigh elementary: March 1
PORT MOODY
• Port Moody secondary: March 5
• Moody middle: March 2 and 3
— With files from Stefan Labbé and Tyler Orton.
