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UPDATE: Fraser Health reports second exposure event at Kent Elementary, AESS

Five exposure events have been recorded within a month
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There have been four exposure events in Agassiz schools in the past three weeks. (Adam Louis/Graphic)

This past week, Fraser Health has reported five COVID-19 exposure events within a three-week period.

Fraser Health has recorded the following exposure events from Sept. 23 to Oct. 8:

Kent Elementary: Sept 23 and 24 (Expired), Oct. 6, 7 and 8

Agassiz Centre for Education (ACE): Oct. 1

Agassiz Elementary-Secondary (AESS): Sept. 27, 28 and 29, Oct. 6, 7 and 8

RELATED: Fraser Health confirms COVID-19 exposure at Kent Elementary

The first Kent Elementary exposure event was recorded to Fraserhealth.ca on Thursday, Oct. 7 and the AESS and ACE exposures were published on Friday, Oct. 8. The first Kent Elementary exposure has been removed from the Fraser Health website as more than 14 days after the last exposure has elapsed. However, a second exposure at Kent Elementary was published on Oct. 13.

Fraser Health defines an exposure as “a single person with [a] lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period.” In this case, a person who tested positive for COVID-19 was at the school on Sept. 23 and 24.

An outbreak is different than an exposure. Health officials can declare a COVID-19 outbreak “when evidence is found of COVID-19 spread from one person who has tested positive for COVID-19 to another.” There are no local outbreaks at this time.

RELATED: Mandatory vaccination for B.C. school staff up to boards, says B.C. premier

In the event of an exposure, Fraser Health advises those who are able and without COVID-19 symptoms to continue attending school. Being in the school during an exposure event does not necessarily mean someone is now infected with COVID-19. If any action needs to be taken by students or staff such as self-monitoring for symptoms or self-isolating, Fraser Health will contact them directly.

SD 78 has had a very low exposure rate throughout the pandemic with six being recorded in the 2020-2021 school year.

The Observer has reached out to Superintendent Balan Moorthy for comment.


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adam.louis@ ahobserver.com

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