Ucluelet Elementary School has been added to Island Health’s potential COVID-19 exposure list.
The possible exposure occurred on Sept. 28, according to Island Health’s website. It is not clear what class or grade was affected or whether the exposure involved a student or a staff member.
Island Health’s website explains that anyone identified as having COVID-19 will be instructed to self isolate and anyone identified as a close contact to a COVID-19 case will be asked to self-isolate or monitor for symptoms.
“Public Health works directly with school staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed, and to carry out case and contact management. Those identified as cases will be instructed to self-isolate directly by our Public Health teams. Those identified as close contacts may be asked to self-isolate or closely self-monitor for symptoms for a specified period,” the site reads. “If you have not been notified by Public Health by phone or by letter that you or your child need to self-isolate, you/they may continue to attend school as long as you/they are not experiencing any symptoms.”
A self-assessment tool is available at bc.thrive.health and a health checklist for students can be found at www.bccdc.ca/schools.
Ucluelet Elementary is one of 26 Vancouver Island schools currently on Island Health’s potential exposure list. School District 70 currently has two schools on the list: UES and EJ Dunn in Port Alberni, where a cluster was reported from September 15-24.
Last week, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a new mandate that all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 must wear COVID-19 masks in schools as of Monday (Oct. 4). Prior to the new mandate, only students from Grades 4-12 were required to wear masks.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
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