For the third time since students went back to the classroom, Heather Park Elementary has formally been flagged for a COVID-19 exposure event.
Northern Health says students and staff may potentially come into contact with someone who tested positive for the virus on Dec. 3, in addition to its first two exposure events on Dec. 1 and 2 and/or 4, 7 and 8.
PrinceGeorgeMatters has been made aware that several parents have decided to pull their children out of school early ahead of the winter break starting Friday (Dec. 18), with some claiming that about 20 teachers and staff allegedly called in sick.
"There is a turnaround time that involves the person noticing their symptoms, getting tested and receiving results, and contact tracing taking place; only then can a notification of a potential exposure be issued, if one is needed," said Northern Health when asked by PrinceGeorgeMatters about the situation.
"Most people receive their results directly (e.g. by text message from the BC Centre for Disease Control), and they may – but are not obliged to – share that result with anyone they wish to inform. As a result, individuals may become aware of their results and/or hear of new cases or potential contacts much sooner than PH can initiate informing of contacts.
"NH currently has approximately 100 staff working on or prepared to support contact tracing; and we are working to increase these numbers through a combination of new hires and deploying other staff to this work."
Smithers Secondary (SD54) was also added to Northern Health's list with Dec. 7 and 10 cited as separate exposure events.
Today, St. Mary's Catholic School announced it was closing its building early for winter break.
In any situation, 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 following is a list of northern B.C. schools marked for a COVID-19 exposure event:
- 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
- St. Mary's Catholic School (Diocese of Prince George) - Dec. 1-2, 3-4, 2020
- Kitwanga Elementary (SD82) - Dec. 1-3, 2020
- Prince George Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-3, 2020; Nov. 18, 2020; Oct. 2, 2020
- Caledonia Secondary (SD82) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 30, 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
- Shas Ti-Kelly Road Secondary (SD57) - Dec. 1-2, 2020; Nov. 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
- Dawson Creek Secondary - South Peace Campus (SD59) - Nov. 16-18, 2020; Sept. 23-25, 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
As of this publication (Dec. 16), Northern Health has recorded 1,368 COVID-19 infections since March.
This includes 15 deaths in the region, three new since Monday (Dec. 14), 367 active cases, 18 people in critical care among 48 total hospitalizations, and 986 recoveries.
