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Queensborough, Queen Elizabeth schools see new COVID-19 exposures in New West

Nine of New Westminster's 12 schools have reported COVID-19 exposures this year, and two classes at NWSS are now in isolation
Julie MacLellan
Julie MacLellan
COVID in classroom
Queensborough Middle School and Queen Elizabeth Elementary School have been added to the Fraser Health school COVID exposures website as of Dec. 18. Photo via Getty ImagesGetty Images

New Westminster schools have received word of two more COVID-19 exposures on the last day before winter break.

Today’s list on the Fraser Health schools website notes exposures at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School and Queensborough Middle School, both relating to someone who was in the school on Dec. 4, 7, 8 and 9. (An early notification letter to Queen Elizabeth parents also notes Dec. 3, but that date is not reflected on the Fraser Health site; it falls outside of the 14-day publication window.)

An exposure at Queensborough on Dec. 2 and 3 was previously reported.

The notifications come at the end of a week in which two classes at New Westminster Secondary School were asked to self-isolate for 14 days following a COVID-19 exposure – the first isolation orders issued in the New West district.

School exposures were also reported at Glenbrook Middle School this week, as well as three elementary schools: Lord Tweedsmuir, F.W. Howay and Qayqayt.

Just three of the district's 12 schools - Connaught Heights Elementary, Herbert Spencer Elementary and Lord Kelvin Elementary - have yet to report an exposure.

In all cases, “exposures” mean that someone who has since tested positive for COVID-19 was in the school during their potentially infectious period.

Fraser Health officials then do contact tracing to determine whether anyone needs to self-monitor for symptoms or to self-isolate, depending on their level of contact with the infected person.

Following a recent change to notification procedures in the health region, families receive letters informing them when their child may have been exposed – that is, when they are in the same class or cohort as the infected person.

 

WHEN HAVE EXPOSURES OCCURRED AT NEW WEST SCHOOLS?

New Westminster Secondary: Sept. 15, 16, 17; Oct. 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, 26, 27; Nov. 2, 3, 9, 19, 20, 23, 27, 30; Dec. 1, 3, 4, 7

Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary: Sept. 24, 25; Oct. 30; Nov 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13; Dec. 3, 4

Glenbrook Middle: Oct. 14, 15, 16; Nov. 27, 30; Dec. 1, 2, 3, 7

Fraser River Middle: Sept. 15, 16, 17: Oct. 7, 8; Nov. 6

Queensborough Middle: Sept. 21, 22; Nov. 24, 25; Dec. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9

Qayqayt Elementary: Nov. 18, 19, 20; Dec. 3, 4

Queen Elizabeth Elementary: Oct. 30, Nov. 9, Nov. 20, Dec. 3, 4, 7, 8, 9

Richard McBride Elementary: Nov. 9, 10

F.W. Howay Elementary: Dec. 8, 9