Definition of school outbreak changes as COVID-19 cases rise in Manitoba
CBC
Manitoba education and public health officials are redefining COVID-19 school outbreaks in order to have more consistent reporting and bring forward preventative measures, Manitoba's top doctor says.
An outbreak will be declared when there are at least three school-associated cases identified within 14 days of each other in students, teachers or staff within a cohort, Chief Provincial Public Health Officer Dr. Brent Roussin said Tuesday.
The cases must be assessed as potentially acquired in school, and linked to a known case in the school setting or a school-sanctioned extracurricular activity.
"Certainly, we cannot say there is zero risk for kids from COVID-19 … but we need to balance that risk of COVID with the risk of societal isolation that has played on the mental and physical well-being of children," he said in an online news conference.
Close contacts within schools where the risk is deemed to be high will now only have to self-isolate for 10 days, which aligns with provincial quarantine measures, he said. Testing will be recommended after seven days have passed.
Vaccination status and consistent mask use will be considered when assessing risk levels.
Close contacts who are fully immunized and are asymptomatic or have had COVID-19 within the past six months won't have to self-isolate, Roussin said.
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