A Prince George school is being flagged a second time in as many days for possible COVID-19 exposure amid a flurry of alerts across northern B.C.
Yesterday (April 20), Buckhorn Elementary was alerted of its first exposure event since the pandemic began as students and staff, between April 13 and 15, may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive.
Today (April 21), Northern Health has issued another warning, adding April 12, 2021, to the list.
Buckhorn was among 14 schools in the authority reported for a new exposure event, including 10 in the northeast and three in the northwest (see list below).
Since students and staff went back to class last fall, 23 SD57 schools in Prince George, to date, have experienced at least one COVID-19 exposure event, along with three private institutions.
In all instances, Northern Health's school-exposure section explains the following:
- 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
An up-to-date list of northern B.C. schools marked for COVID-19 exposure events in the month of April is as follows:
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 12, 2021
- Cassie Hall Elementary (SD82) - April 5-6, 12-16, 2021
- Thornhill Primary School (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Thornhill Elementary (SD82) - April 13-15, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 14, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent, Dawson Creek) - April 13-15, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Freedom Thinkers Education (Independent, Fort St. John) - April 12-13, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Bert Bowes Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 13, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- R.L. Angus Elementary (SD81) - April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 14-15, 2021
- Buckhorn Elementary (SD57) - April 13-15, 2021
- Duncan Cran Elementary (SD60) - April 6-8, 12-14, 2021
- Evelyn Dickson Elementary (SD91) - April 9, 2021
- Chetwynd Secondary (SD59) - April 12, 2021
- Morfee Elementary (SD57) - April 3-5, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 7, 12-16, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus, Fort St. John (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Hudson's Hope Elementary and Junior Secondary (SD60) - April 12, 2021
- Doctor Kearney Middle (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- North Peace Secondary (SD60) - April 12-13, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - April 7-9, 2021
- College Heights Secondary (SD57) - April 12-13, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - April 6-9, 2021
- Houston Christian School (Independent) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - April 7, 2021
- Twain Sullivan Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Houston Secondary (SD54) - April 7-9, 12-13, 2021
- Sliverthorne Elementary (SD54) - April 7-9, April 12-13, 2021
- Energetic Learning Campus (SD60) - April 8-9, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 30-April 1, 2021
- École Mountain View Elementary (SD82) - April 6, 2021
- École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59) - March 30 - April 2, 2021
- Tremblay Elementary (SD59) - March 30-April 1, 2021
- École College Heights Elementary (SD57) - April 6-8, 2021
- St. Anthony's Catholic School, Kitimat (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 29-April 1, 2021
- Notre Dame Catholic School (Independent) - March 29-April 1, 2021
- Sacred Heart Elementary (Diocese of Prince George) - April 6, 2021
- Kispiox Community School (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Mountain Christian School Society (Independent) - April 6, 2021
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Canalta Elementary (SD59) - April 6, 2021
- C.M. Finch Elementary (SD60) - March 30-April 1, 2021
- Duchess Park Secondary (SD57) - April 6, 2021
- Kersley Elementary (SD28) - April 6-8, 2021
- Dawson Creek Secondary, South Peace Campus (SD59) - March 31-April 1, 2021
As of this publication (April 21), Northern Health has tallied 6,869 cases since the pandemic reached the region in March 2020 with 232 currently active.
The BCCDC says 18 people are in hospitals across the authority, nine of which are in ICU or critical care.
A total of 136 lives have been lost due to the virus.
- with a file from Kyle Balzer, PrinceGeorgeMatters
