St. Mary's School in Prince George sees fourth COVID-19 exposure event

Kids are on winter break until January, but more contact-tracing has come in for one Prince George independent school.

Today (Dec. 21), Northern Health says St. Mary's Catholic School has been warned a fourth time this month for a COVID-19 exposure event with Dec. 8 to 11 cited as the dates students and staff may have come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.

The exposure dates are a week before the Diocese of Prince George member decided to send students on their winter break early on Dec. 16.

"The safety of our school community is of utmost importance and we appreciate your patience, understanding and prayers," said Catholic Independent Schools Diocese of Prince George Superintendent Chris Dugdale as St. Mary's early exposure dates include Dec. 1-2, 3-4 and 7-10.

"We recognize that this has been a stressful time, we look forward to a healthy fresh start resuming January 4, 2021."

Northern Health says self-monitoring for symptoms for the latest exposure dates formally end on Friday (Dec. 25).

Elsewhere, Caledonia Secondary in Terrace (SD82) was also alerted a fourth time for a COVID-19 exposure event on Dec. 10 and 11 with its self-monitoring timeframe ending on Christmas as well.

Mountain View Christian Academy, also in Terrace, was warned of a second exposure event Dec. 8-10 with its self-monitoring window for symptoms set to end on Thursday (Dec. 24).

To date, there have been 16 Prince George-associated schools flagged for the virus, including four members of the Diocese of Prince George and 12 School District 57 (SD57) institutions.

Northern Health's school-exposure section explains students should still go to school "if you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health," but you're also encouraged to monitor symptoms daily.

Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with
We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days
Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact
- Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact
Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community

The full up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for the virus is as follows:

St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 8-11, 2020; Dec. 7-10, 2020; Dec. 3-4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020
Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 10-11, 2020; Nov. 30-Dec. 4, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
Mountain View Christian Academy (Independent) - Dec. 8-10, 2020; Dec. 7-8, 2020
Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - Dec. 4, 7-11, 14-17, 2020
Walnut Park Elementary (SD54) - Dec. 9-10, 2020
Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 7-11, 2020; Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
College Heights Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 10 and 11, 2020
D.P. Todd Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1 and 2, 2020
Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Dec. 8, 2020; Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 2020
Smithers Secondary (SD54) - Dec. 7 and 10, 2020
Westwood Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 8, 2020
Heather Park Elementary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 3, 4, 7-8, 2020
Fort Nelson Secondary (SD81) - Dec. 7, 2020; Oct. 15-16, 2020
Skeena Middle (SD82) - Dec. 4 and 7, 2020
Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 4, 2020
Nak’albun Elementary (Independent) - Dec. 3-4, 2020; Nov. 22-25, 2020; Sept. 16-18, 2020
Ecole Central Elementary (SD60) - Dec. 2-3, 2020
Suwilaawks Community School - Terrace (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020; Nov. 27, 30, 2020
Kitwanga Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-3, 2020
Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 16, 18-20, 30, 2020
Margaret Ma Murray Community School (SD60) - Dec. 1-4, 2020; Nov. 23-26, 27, 30, 2020
Uplands Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 30, 2020
Fort St. James Secondary (SD91) - Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 19-20, 20-26, 30, 2020
Veritas Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 30, 2020
Anne Roberts Young Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
Bert Ambrose Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 30, 2020
David Hoy Elementary (SD91) - Nov. 30-Dec. 1, 2020; Nov. 25-26, 2020; Sept. 17-18, 2020
William Konkin Elementary in Burns Lake (SD91) - Nov. 16, 23-24, 23-27, 2020
Energetic Learning Campus in Fort St. John (SD60) - Nov. 16-20, 23-27, 30, 2020
Peden Hill Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 12-17, 17-20, 24-27, Nov. 30, 2020
Centennial Christian in Terrace (Independent) - Nov. 23-26, 2020
North Peace Secondary (SD60) - Nov. 10, 12-13, 16, 19-20, 24-26, 2020
Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - Nov. 25-27, 2020
Charlie Lake Elementary (SD60) - Nov. 23-24, 16-26, 2020
Ecole College Heights Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 19-20, 20-24, 2020
Beaverly Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23-24, 2020
Foothills Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 23, 2020
Lakes District Secondary (SD91) - Nov. 23, 2020
Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - Nov. 13, 2020
Van Bien Elementary (SD57) - Nov. 9-10, 2020
Ron Brent Elementary (SD57) - Oct. 30, 2020
Hudson's Hope Elementary-Junior Secondary (SD60) - Oct. 26-Nov. 4, 2020
Immaculate Conception School (Diocese of Prince George) - Oct. 21-23, 2020
Roosevelt Park Elementary (SD52) - Oct. 21-22, 2020
Notre Dame in Dawson Creek (Private) - Oct. 13-14, 2020
Quesnel Junior Secondary (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
Ecole Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - Sept. 10-11, 2020