North Vancouver mom says COVID-19 notice should have come sooner from school

NORTH VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A mother on the North Shore says families should have been notified sooner, after it was revealed a number of COVID-19 cases at two schools may be linked to a social gathering between students over the weekend.

Letters from Handsworth Secondary and École Argyle Secondary say there are overall four cases of the coronavirus likely linked to some kind of party over the weekend.

NEW: At least 4 #COVID19 cases at 2 North Van. schools may be linked to a social gathering of students from multiple schools. This is according to letters to families at Handsworth Secondary + Ecole Argyle Secondary. Several households are under self-isolation. More on @NEWS1130.

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) February 12, 2021

Laura Brace’s son was in one of the classes exposed at École Argyle. She first started hearing about potential cases earlier this week.

“Then the speculation and the rumours escalated throughout the week. He continued to go to school and of course his friends were calling him and saying, ‘I’ve heard this many people have been affected and they’re in your class,'” she tells NEWS 1130.

“He was quite concerned, himself. And I, again, just reassured him that I had heard nothing and that we can’t go on the rumours and speculation of other kids. Then, at 10 o’clock last night (Thursday), the two emails came through with the exposure dates.”

Related article: COVID-19 cases at two North Vancouver schools may be linked to social gathering

Brace notes that while her family is happy to finally receive confirmation, it should have come sooner.

“I am very relieved that we finally did receive some communication from the school. I feel like there should have been something earlier but I know they can’t communicate to us until VCH has confirmed a case,” she explains.

“There was a lot more anxiety when we didn’t know, and the rumours, of course, just were ramping up that anxiety and so now I feel a little bit more like, ‘Okay, we know what we’re dealing with, we can now manage.’ But, just a little more communication and openness from the school kind of feels like it would have helped, especially when the rumours are out there,” Brace, who is a nurse, adds.

She plans to keep her son and daughter — who attends another school — home for the time being to monitor them both for symptoms.

Because of her profession and out of concern for elderly relatives, Brace says she’ll take her kids to get tested for COVID-19 at the slightest symptom of the virus.

The letter from Argyle sent to families on Thursday says three members of the school community have tested positive and that all three may be linked to the social gathering.

The school has listed possible exposure dates as Feb. 4, 5, 8, 9, and 10.

“[My son] has been at school all of those days, so is it a bit of a moot point to be keeping him home today? Maybe, but I just figure there’s no point in sending him there today,” Brace adds.

She’s unclear on what kind of social gathering the schools are referring to. She says the school has shared no other information so far.

An emailed statement from Vancouver Coastal Health states the health authority cannot confirm the number of cases by classes or schools for privacy reasons.

“When VCH is notified of a positive case in a student or school staff member, Public Health completes an investigation as efficiently as possible, typically within 24 hours, to identify all individuals that person was in contact with” reads the email. “If the person who tested positive for COVID-19 attended school while potentially infectious, Public Health coordinates with the school to notify all contacts and to offer guidance on next steps.”