COVID-19 concerns prompt West Vancouver school to close early for spring break
Collingwood School says one of its families was in close contact with a coronavirus patient
A private West Vancouver school will be disbanding four days early for spring break after learning one of its families was in close contact with a patient with COVID-19.
In a letter to parents, Collingwood School says Vancouver Coastal Health has told the school the risk is "limited" and they don't believe the family has been infected.
But out of an "abundance of caution," they will be closing the school until March 30 when classes are set to resume following spring break.
During that time, the school will be deep cleaning both its junior and high school campuses with a Clorox bleach treatment.
The letter adds the patient was not staff, a student or family member from the school.
More than 1,200 students attend the school's two campuses.
Surrey schools notified
Over the weekend, Surrey school district says the risk of spread remains low after two people who had been inside two different schools in the city were diagnosed with COVID-19.
The district said it was notified of both instances by Fraser Health over the weekend. A district spokesperson said they could not confirm when, exactly, the people had been inside the schools, which were identified as Sullivan Heights Secondary and Serpentine Elementary.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said parents were notified as a reassurance, not because there is risk of infection.
"We do not believe there is a risk to people using those facilities," Henry said at a news conference Monday.
On Sunday, Fraser Health issued a letter to Sullivan Heights parents, students and others after officials confirmed "a member of the [high school] community" had tested positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
The notice said the person was asymptomatic during their time at the school. Fraser Health said it could not provide any further details on the patient, or their activity at the school, due to "privacy issues."
"There is no evidence that novel coronavirus is transmitted via asymptomatic individuals and the risk is low for the staff and students at Sullivan Heights," the letter said.
Fraser Health said it sent the notice to parents to assure them the risk of infection is low — an assertion reiterated multiple times in the one-page letter.
2nd infected person at elementary school
The Surrey school district was also informed that a second person with COVID-19 had been at Serpentine Elementary. The person is not a member of the school community, but had rented space in the building.
There was no direct contacts with students, the district said. A spokesperson on Monday said the elementary school had received a "deep clean" as a precaution, but stressed the risk is low.
"The schools have been very proactive and did additional cleaning over the weekend," said Henry.
Fraser Health said all COVID-19 patients in the region are being monitored by Fraser Health and urged to self-isolate.
Increased cleaning
The notice said the Surrey school district has increased cleaning protocols and begun reinforcing health advice during daily morning announcements broadcast in its schools.
The letter added that health officials want to reinforce protective measures being recommended for all schools, such as staying home when sick, regardless of how severe symptoms may be.
Around 1,500 students in grades 8 through 12 attend Sullivan Heights Secondary. Several hundred students between kindergarten to Grade 7 attend Serpentine Elementary.
Provincial health officials in B.C. have said the best way to prevent spread of the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is to wash hands thoroughly and frequently using soap and water. Residents are also advised to avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth.