New Westminster School District received new guidelines for cleaning and decontamination recently regarding the novel coronavirus, according to Karim Hachlaf, the school district’s superintendent.
“We’ll be implementing the guidelines as per the Ministry (of Health),” he said at last week’s school board meeting.
The risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, remains low in British Columbia, he said, adding there is information about proper respiratory hygiene on the district’s website. It is in the news and features section.
“The ministry and Fraser Health, as you know, have been clear that folks who are displaying respiratory illness are asked to stay home, and looking in some cases at a potential 14-day window,” Hachlaf said. “This dialogue is ongoing and, as you know, impacts not just the school district but the entire world.”
School District No. 40 is working to implement guidelines provided by the ministry and Fraser Health Authority, and is posting updates as they come in, he said.
Fraser Health Authority released a statement on Friday, Feb. 28, which was posted on the school district’s website on Monday morning.
“There are no new cases of COVID-19 in our region,” the letter stated. “We are aware there are alleged personal details about people involved circulating on social media which may be causing unnecessary concern among families.”
The health authority also stated there are two people who tested positive for novel coronavirus in the health region.
“As previously announced, our public health teams are supporting two people who have tested positive with COVID-19. We are also supporting their close contacts, who are all in isolation at home,” the letter stated. “While we will not be identifying specific schools or hospitals visited by people with COVID-19, we remind people the risk to the public is low and those who need to be aware of possible exposure have been contacted.”
The letter also included instructions for proper hygiene during cold and flu season, including washing hands for at least 20 seconds using soap and water, not touching your face with unwashed hands, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or the crease of your elbow.
There have been eight people diagnosed with novel coronavirus in B.C. and four people who have been diagnosed have since recovered, according to the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
