More COVID-19 exposures have been revealed at Burnaby public schools, including one school that saw 13 “exposure event” dates listed in January, according to Fraser Health.
Chaffey-Burke Elementary has had exposures on Jan. 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29.
The latest list includes multiple Burnaby high schools and elementary schools, according to those posted on the Fraser Health coronavirus tracker site. (Other cases may have been identified at Burnaby schools with parents notified, but there is sometimes a lag before they reach the Fraser Health site.)
- Cariboo Hill Secondary has had five exposure dates listed on the Fraser Health site: Jan. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15
- Cameron Elementary: Jan. 19
- Byrne Creek secondary has had multiple exposure dates, including Jan. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 29
- Moscrop Secondary has had an exposure on Jan. 11
- Brantford Elementary had an exposure on Jan. 15
- Armstrong Elementary had exposures on Jan. 11, 12 and 13
- Burnaby South Secondary: Jan. 21, 22
- Burnaby South Community and Continuing Education: Jan 28
- Burnaby Youth HUB: Jan. 22, 25 and 26
- Montecito Elementary: Jan. 26, 27 and 28
- Westridge Elementary: Jan. 22, 26 and 27
The latest school cases come as stricter measures on masks in schools were announced earlier this week.
All middle and secondary students, as well as K-12 staff, will be required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including when they are with their learning groups.
The only exceptions are when sitting or standing at their seat or workstation in a classroom, where there is a barrier in place, or while they are eating or drinking.
Previously, masks were only required for these groups in high-traffic areas, like hallways and outside of classrooms or in learning groups when they could not safely distance from others.
Now staff and students will have to wear a mask when they walk around a classroom or go in and out the classroom door, as well as in other places where people congregate.
Exceptions will be made for people who do not tolerate masks for behavioural or health reasons, and even with masks, physical distancing is still required.
For elementary students, wearing masks indoors remains a personal choice. However, the new policy removes the words “not recommended” and replaces them with “not required,” to “make it a little easier to have the mask encouragement where elementary schools feel they want to have it.”
- With files from Diane Strandberg, Tri-City News
