Two Vancouver elementary schools are reporting that potential coronavirus (COVID-19) exposure events on school grounds occurred last week.
Both Kerrisdale Elementary School (5555 Carnarvon St.) and John Norquay Elementary School (4710 Slocan St.) have reported between Sept. 27 and 29 there were potential exposure events at those schools. No more details are currently available.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) says after alerting a person who's part of the school community they've tested positive they'll look to see if the community is at risk.
"Public Health will notify the case of their test result and determine who they were in contact with while they were infectious (including at school), and follow up with those contacts as well," states VCH on its website. "If there is an increased risk of ongoing transmission of COVID-19 to groups they were a part of (eg. a class), a school exposure notice will be posted."
They advise parents that if they haven't been directly contacted by public health the students should remain in class.
"Children and youth continue to be at low risk for serious outcomes from COVID-19, but research has shown missing school impacts mental health, social connection and learning outcomes," VCH explains on its website.
These are the first exposures listed in Vancouver for this school year; when the 2021-2022 school year began, B.C. did not require public postings of school exposures as had been done the previous school year. The province soon changed course, however, and health authorities resumed posting school exposure events on their websites.
A province-wide mask rule went into effect today.
