Surrey school shuts down due to COVID-19 outbreak after 30 positive tests
Posted December 11, 2020 11:31 am.
Last Updated December 11, 2020 11:06 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — An outbreak has been declared at a Surrey school after at least 30 people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Fraser Health Authority.
To break the chains of transmission, Regent Christian Academy will be shutting down as a result and move to online learning until Dec. 18, which is when it would have closed anyway for winter break.
#BREAKING @Fraserhealth confirms #COVID19 outbreak at #SurreyBC school Regent Christian Academy after 30 people test positive.
Remote learning now in effect until December 18th when winter break starts. #bced #bcpoli @NEWS1130 https://t.co/GSE5nl0Rub— Marcella Bernardo (@MBernardoNews) December 11, 2020
Contact tracers have started informing people who may have been in close contact with COVID-19 carriers to self-monitor for symptoms or to isolate.
Families were notified of the outbreak Thursday, but the private school’s website hasn’t posted about the situation as of Friday morning.
RELATED: ‘It takes time, but it is getting done’: B.C.’s top doctor says of COVID-19 school exposure notice delivery
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry shut down the idea of extending winter break for schools around the province despite calls from advocates to do so.
The decision against extending or beginning the winter break at schools earlier has highlighted a communication gap between the province and teachers.
The majority of the dozens of school exposures posted Thursday were in the Fraser Health region. Roughly a third of B.C. schools have had an exposure event so far.
For more information on school exposures in the region, click here.
