Classes are back in session next week for schools in the Tri-Cities.
However, the BC Teachers Federation (BCTF) is calling on the provincial government to implement more safety measures against COVID-19 with the threat of more-contagious Omicron variant spreading across the Lower Mainland as local students and staff are set to return on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022.
The call came in a series of tweets just before Christmas while, as of this publication (Dec. 28), 11 institutions across Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody have been marked for potential exposure.
This includes five with reported exposures on the last day of classes — Dec. 17, 2021 — before the two-week winter break began; three in Port Coquitlam, two of which are new alerts, and two others in Coquitlam.
You can view the full list at the bottom of the story.
The BCTF, which represents about 45,000 teachers, urged the province to ramp up its response to the variant, saying “If keeping #bced schools open is the goal, then they need to do much more and communicate it clearly before the New Year.”
The Omicron variant has changed the pandemic. It's more transmissible and has a shorter incubation. Safety measures in #bced schools must change too. Thousands of students remain unvaccinated and too many workers are waiting for boosters. The #bcpoli government must act. 1/6
— BCTF (@bctf) December 23, 2021
Meanwhile, the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) has cited a near five per cent increase in first-dose vaccinations against COVID-19 among Tri-City kids aged five to 11 to almost 39 per cent.
The double-dose average has yet to move in the last week at 88.4 per cent for eligible school-aged children aged 12 to 17.
The BCCDC's official data breakdown — as of Dec. 22, 2021 — is as follows:
North Coquitlam
- 38 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
- 35 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
- 88 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Southeast Coquitlam
- 36 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
- 87 per cent of children aged 12 to 17 vaccinated with a second dose
Port Coquitlam
- 35 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
- 50 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
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.
SCHOOL EXPOSURES
COQUITLAM
- Glen Elementary: Dec. 14
- Leigh Elementary: Dec. 14–17
- Nestor Elementary: Dec. 15–17
- Walton Elementary: Dec. 14–15
- Pinetree Secondary: Dec. 14–16
PORT COQUITLAM
- Ecole des Pionniers de Maillardville (SD93): Dec. 14–16
- Hope Lutheran Christian (Independent): Dec. 14–15
- Kwayhquitlum Middle: Dec. 16–17
- Minnekhada Middle: Dec. 15–17
- Terry Fox Secondary: Dec. 17
PORT MOODY
- Glenayre Elementary: Dec. 14
- with a file from Maria Rantanen, Richmond News
