Four schools were flagged for COVID-19 exposures Thursday as Fraser Health continues to post exposure notices for schools and cases rise across the region.
The new schools added to Fraser Health’s website brings to eight the number of School District 43 schools with exposures over a two-week period.
In Coquitlam, two elementary schools have been reported for exposures: École Porter elementary had an exposure on Nov. 12 and 13 and Harbourview elementary on Nov. 9 and 10.
This is the second exposure notice for Harbourview, which had one on Oct. 16 and 20.
Meanwhile, in Port Moody secondary school is noted as having an exposure on Nov. 12. This is the second notice for Port Moody secondary since Oct. 13
In Port Coquitlam, Minnekhada middle school had an exposure on Nov. 9 and 10, according to Fraser Health’s website.
The notices come as some parents are asking why they aren’t notified sooner.
Four public schools were cited as having exposures the week of Nov. 2-6, including Central elementary, Hazel Trembath elementary, Mary Hill elementary, and Terry Fox secondary. Archbishop Carney is also reported as having an exposure during that week.
The notices are raising some concerns among parents.
In an interview Monday, Nov. 16, a Hazel Trembath parent told the Tri-City News he’s worried for his son and needs more details to decide whether he should keep him home from school after notices went that day for a COVID-19 exposure at the school Nov. 3, 4 and 6.
Another Hazel Trembath parent contacted the Tri-City News with the same concern.
Still, the notices offer some information about how COVID-19 is circulating in Tri-City communities. As of today, there are no cases of a cluster or an outbreak of the virus spreading among staff and students in a School District 43 school.
According to Fraser Health, a school “exposure” 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.
Finally, an “outbreak” at a school means “multiple individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” and that “transmission is likely widespread.”
Fraser Health school exposures:
Map by Gary McKenna/Tri-City News
