Students are out of class the next two weeks for the holiday break, but parents and guardians should still be wary if their young ones start to develop any potential symptoms of COVID-19.
This is especially with concerns starting to rise of the Omicron variant, which is more transmissible in any community.
According to Fraser Health, there are 16 schools across the Tri-Cities listed for potential exposure as respective students and staff may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive for the virus.
This is an increase of four schools compared to 12 reported by the Tri-City News on Friday (Dec. 17).
There are 13 institutions associated with School District 43 (SD43).
You can view the full list at the bottom of the story.
New COVID-19 case numbers in B.C. spiked to 911 cases on Friday, followed by 832 cases on Saturday (Dec. 18) and 807 cases on Sunday (Dec. 19). This was after Thursday’s (Dec. 15) figure reached 789 — the highest such number since Sept. 29.
Officials say they will update the public about the spread of the Omicron variant in the province this afternoon (Dec. 21).
The last reported number of infections was 302 involving the new variant, including 58 in Fraser Health.
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is reporting a bump in the Tri-Cities to 88.4 per cent of eligible school-aged children — aged 12 to 17 — who've received two doses of vaccine against COVID-19.
The region is also currently posting a 34.6 per cent single-dose average rate for kids aged five to 11.
The BCCDC's official data breakdown is as follows:
North Coquitlam
- 33 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
- 32 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
- 32 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
- 31 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
- 45 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
- Children of Integrity Montessori (Independent): Dec. 13
- Glen Elementary: Dec. 14
- Leigh Elementary: Dec. 14–16
- Nestor Elementary: Dec. 13
- R.C. MacDonald Elementary: Dec. 10, 13
- Walton Elementary: Dec. 10, 14–15
- Montgomery Middle: Dec. 13
- Dr. Charles Best Secondary: Dec. 13
- Pinetree Secondary: Dec. 10
PORT COQUITLAM
- Ecole des Pionniers de Maillardville (SD93): Dec. 9
- Hope Lutheran Christian (Independent): Dec. 8–10, 13–15
- Riverside Secondary: Dec. 7
- Terry Fox Secondary: Dec. 8–10
PORT MOODY
- Aspenwood Elementary: Dec. 7–8
- Glenayre Elementary: Dec. 13–14
- Heritage Mountain Elementary: Dec. 8–9, 13
- with a file from Glen Korstrom, Business In Vancouver
