An independent school in Kamloops is closing all of its kindergarten to grade four classes until next Wednesday because of a COVID-19 exposure, as the list of schools with confirmed virus cases continues to grow.
St. Ann’s Academy sent a letter to families Thursday night saying the school would be closed Friday, Oct. 1, as well as Monday and Tuesday of next week. affecting kids up to Grade four. At this point, those students will be able to return to class on Wednesday (Oct. 5).
The school said there would be a learning continuity plan set up for students who have to stay home.
“I wish to thank all of you for your attention on this matter and appreciate your continued patience and understanding as we continue to navigate these uncertain times,” Supt. of School, Christopher Yuen, said in the letter to families.
Meanwhile, there are now 11 active school exposures in the Kamloops area, with four new COVID-19 exposures reported late Thursday night. Those exposures are at Summit Elementary (Sept. 16, 17, 20, 21), Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (Sept. 20-21), Haldane Elementary in Chase (Sept. 21-24), and South Sa-Hali Elementary (Sept. 24).
Other active exposures reported earlier in the week are at Juniper Ridge, Aberdeen, Dallas, and Pacific Way elementary schools, and also at Logan Lake and Valleyview secondary schools and at the aforementioned St. Anne’s.
In Merritt, a school exposure has also been reported at Diamond Vale Elementary.
NL News has also received many calls and emails this week from parents who say their school-aged child has tested positive for COVID-19, including from parents in Clearwater and Salmon Arm, although at time of posting, no exposures are listed yet on the Interior Health website for any schools in those two communities.
A grade three class in Dallas Elementary has been told to isolate at home, according to a letter sent to families this week obtained by NL News. Interior Health notified parents about the exposure on Wednesday this week, with those kids required to be at home until Oct. 5.
A parent in Dallas told NL News earlier this week that he and many others have been lobbying for layers of protection to be brought back in for elementary students who cannot yet be vaccinated. It comes after a disastrous first month of school with the Delta variant spreading through schools across the province.
Health officials had lifted learning cohorts and no longer required staggered schedules or recesses ahead of this school year. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside will be holding a news conference later this morning to talk about “enhanced” safety protocols in schools, with details to come.
In total, as of Friday morning, there are now 50 active school exposures within Interior Health listed on its website.
Details on schools affected, and dates of the risk of exposure, can be found here.
