The latest school exposure of COVID-19 on Vancouver Island has occurred in Port Alberni, according to an alert issued by Island Health.
The advisory states that the exposure occurred on October 19 at Wood Elementary in Port Alberni.
A letter from Shannon Waters, the Medical Health Officer of the Cowichan Valley Region, was sent to parents and guardians on October 21.
“Phone calls have been made to staff and students that Island Health has identified as needing to self isolate for 14 days from when they were exposed,” reads the letter.
“Letters have been sent out to staff and students who will be asked to self-monitor for symptoms. These staff/students may continue to attend school while monitoring for symptoms.”
According to Island Health, families do not need to take any action if a COVID-19 exposure has taken place at their school unless they are contacted by B.C. public health or school officials.
Contact tracing has been initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with.
Close contacts who may be at risk are notified and advised to to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
Public health defines an exposure event as a case where a single person has tested positive for COVID-19. More than one case is defined as a cluster or an outbreak.
School exposure events will be posted on Island Health’s exposure list for two weeks after they have been identified.
