Four classes of elementary students attending schools in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody are now isolating as Fraser Health investigates COVID-19 schools in the Tri-Cities.
With COVID-19 circulating in the community, students currently isolating may not even return to school before spring break starts next week — giving them extra time at home.
The health authority responsible for investigating school exposures has confirmed that Coquitlam River and Moody elementaries each have one class self-isolating while Cedar Drive elementary has two classes self-isolating.
Coquitlam River elementary in Coquitlam was flagged for its fifth COVID-19 exposure — with new dates added March 8, 9 and 10; parents also received a letter stating that one full division has been asked to self isolate for 14 days.
And, in Port Coquitlam, two classes at Cedar Drive elementary are reportedly isolating after COVID-19 exposures on March 8, 9, 10 and 11.
Moody elementary school located in Port Moody, flagged for exposures dates March 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, also has a class of students isolating and learning at home.
Meanwhile three more exposure dates have been added for Castle Park elementary school in Port Coquitlam. Fraser Health has notified the school of exposure dates March 10, 11, 12 in addition to earlier dates of March 2, 3 and 4.
The cases come as the BC Teachers’ Federation said elementary school teachers in B.C. are more at risk of catching COVID-19 compared to secondary teachers, blaming the problem on the lack of a mask mandate at the elementary-school level.
According to the BCTF, there were 80 WorkSafeBC claims for COVID-19 for kindergarten to Grade 7 teachers compared to 25 for those teachers in grades 8 to 12.
Here are the school exposure cases to March 16:
COQUITLAM
• Gleneagle secondary: March 3 and 4
• Centennial secondary: March 3 and 4
• Coquitlam River elementary: March 2, 8, 9 and 10
• Our Lady of Fatima (independent): March 2, 3 and 4
• Panorama Heights elementary: March 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9
• Smiling Creek elementary: March 2
• Porter Street elementary: March 5 and 8
• Ranch Park elementary: March 10
• Winslow Centre: March 9
• Greater Heights Learning Academy: March 8, 9 and 10
PORT COQUITLAM
• Riverside secondary: March 2, 3 4 and 5
• Terry Fox secondary: March 3, 4 and 5
• Archbishop Carney secondary (independent): March 1
• Kwayhquitlum middle: March 2 and 3
• Citadel middle: March 3 and 4
• Minnekhada middle: March 8, 10 and 11
• Mary Hill elementary: March 2
• Castle Park elementary: March 2, 3, 4, 10, 11 and 12
• Hazel Trembath elementary: March 4 and 5
• Cedar Drive elementary March 8, 9, 10 and 11
PORT MOODY
• Port Moody secondary: March 5
• Moody middle: March 2 and 3
• Moody elementary: March 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12
• Seaview elementary: March 9
