A seventh northern B.C. school has been added to the regional health authority's COVID-19 list today (Oct. 20).
Northern Health says Notre Dame School is the first private institution in its jurisdiction to possibly be exposed to the virus, citing Oct. 13 and 14 as the dates.
The K-7 school becomes the third in Dawson Creek to be listed for potential exposure in addition to Dawson Creek Secondary's South Peace Campus (SD59, Sept. 23-25) and École Frank Ross Elementary (SD59, Sept. 10-11).
According to its website, Notre Dame's staff includes 12 teachers and four educational assistants, is a member of the Catholic Independent Schools of BC and is one of seven within the Diocese of Prince George.
Four other northern B.C. schools have been potentially exposed to COVID-19 since students returned to the classroom:
- Prince George Secondary School (SD57) - Oct. 2, 2020
- David Hoy Elementary School (SD91) - Sept. 17-18, 2020
- Quesnel Junior Secondary School (SD28) - Sept. 10-11, 15-18, 2020
- Nak’albun Elementary School (Independent) - Sept. 16-18, 2020
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.
Should a student or teacher receive a positive COVID-19 test, Northern Heath's school notification process is as follows:
- 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
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