More Coquitlam area schools hit by COVID-19 as childcare workers, first responders targeted for shots

Vaccinations will soon be coming to first responders, child care workers and school-based staff in the Tri-Cities who haven’t received their shots. 

Fraser Health is recommending that people in those groups who have not yet received their COVID-19 vaccine book their immunization appointments starting Wednesday.

“We are reaching out to these groups directly today to share details and next steps,” stated Fraser Health in a statement to the media.

The call for child care workers and first responders to get their shots follow efforts to get Port Coquitlam residents vaccinated as COVID-19 continues to circulate in the community and the city has been declared a high transmission area.

This week Fraser Health is actively contract tracing and investigating cases at eight Port Coquitlam schools, including Terry Fox secondary, which had an exposure on school grounds April 27, 28, 29.

This is the 18th exposure for the Port Coquitlam high school, according to BC School Covid Tracker.

Other Coquitlam area schools are being hit as well, with five Coquitlam schools flagged for exposures last week and one Port Moody school noted for an exposure last week, as well.

At one Coquitlam school, Scott Creek middle, families of students in one of the classes has been asked to monitor for symptoms as they "might have been exposed" to COVID-19 on April 28, 29.

Below is a list of schools with recent COVID-19 exposures current to May 4.

WHAT IS AN EXPOSURE?

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.” 

So far there hasn’t been an outbreak in School District 43 schools, a point made at a recent board of education meeting.

If an outbreak occurred, there would be a partial or full school closure, superintendent Patricia Gartland told trustees.

Port Coquitlam

• Riverside secondary: April 20, 21, 26

• Terry Fox secondary: April 27, 28, 29

• Kwayhquitlum middle: April 26, 27, 28

• Maple Creek middle: April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

• Citadel middle: April 20, 21 and 22, 23, 26, 27

• Castle Park elementary: April 20  

• Hazel Trembath elementary: April 20

• James Park elementary: April 20, 21

• Pitt River middle school: April 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

• École des Pionniers (francophone): April 26, 27 

• Archbishop Carney Regional secondary (Indep): April 26, 27, 28, 29

Coquitlam

• Bramblewood elementary: April 20

• Centennial secondary: April 20, 21, 22

• Pinetree secondary: April 20, 21

• Glen elementary: April 20, 21, 22

• Dr. Charles Best secondary: April 20, 21, 26

• Gleneagle secondary: April 20, 21, 22

• Scott Creek middle: April 21

• Eagle Ridge elementary: April 27, 28, 29

• Panorama Heights elementary: April 26

• Summit middle: April 26, 27

• Lord Baden Powell elementary: April 26, 27 and 28

• Queen of All Saints (Indep): April 22, 23

Port Moody

• Heritage Woods secondary: April 20 and 21

• Aspenwood elementary: April 22

• Port Moody secondary April 26

Anmore

• Eagle Mountain middle: April 22