COVID-19 outbreak leads to closure of Lower Mainland school after 20 people test positive
CTV
A school in B.C.'s Lower Mainland is closing for more than a week due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
A school in B.C.'s Lower Mainland is closing for more than a week due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
A statement released by Fraser Health Wednesday said Promontory Heights Elementary School in Chilliwack is closed until at least Oct. 3. In-person learning has stopped, but remote learning is being implemented.
The school's principal issued a statement saying the school has "experienced a spike in cases" over the past 10 days. Neither the principal or the health authority said how many cases were recorded at the school before it was closed.
According to Fraser Health's note, unvaccinated staff and students in "affected grades" are required to self-isolate at home. All others are asked to self-monitor for symptoms. In a news release issued the next day, the health authority said 20 cases were identified among staff and students.
Anyone who develops COVID-19 symptoms should get tested for the disease, Fraser Health says.
The closure comes shortly after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced the province is changing how parents will learn about COVID-19 cases in their schools.
Earlier this month, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said B.C. would no longer issue school-wide letters when an individual tested positive for the disease and would only send a notice if there was a cluster or outbreak.