A new Prince George school has been added to Northern Health's extensive list of COVID-19 exposure events.
For the first time in the pandemic, Buckhorn Elementary has been warned for the virus as students and staff, between April 13 and 15, may have come in contact with someone who recently tested positive.
It becomes the 26th local school to be warned for COVID-19 and it's the latest in a trio of new exposure events at School District 57 (SD57) member facilities.
Prince George Secondary is listed once again, this time for April 7 and 12 to 16, while Morfee Elementary in Mackenzie may have come contact April 7 and 8.
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 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 20), Northern Health has recorded 6,838 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19, which has included 136 deaths.
There are currently 290 active cases, 10 people admitted into critical care among 15 total hospitalizations and 6,403 recoveries.
B.C.'s youngest life taken by COVID-19 was announced as a toddler under two years old in Fraser Health was killed by the virus on the weekend.
