Testing at Surrey schools finds 3 more cases of COVID-19 variant

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — Testing at four Surrey schools where exposure notices have been issued due to a COVID-19 variant of concern has identified three more cases.

According to Fraser Health, no cases were identified at two of the schools, James Ardiel Elementary and Tamanawis Secondary.

One person has tested positive at Ecole Woodward Hill Elementary, where one class remains in isolation.

Two cases were identified at Surrey Traditional School, and two classes there will have to self-isolate until March 4.

“As these are variants that are new to our communities and more easily transmissible, Fraser Health is working to identify any further connected variant cases to ensure immediate isolationand case management to prevent ongoing transmission,” a statement from the health authority sent Sunday says.

“It is critically important for people living in the Fraser Health region to get tested as soon as you have COVID-19-like symptoms, even mild ones.”

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Exposure notices due to confirmed cases of COVID-19 variants have been issued at a total of 10 schools, nine in Surrey and one in Delta. Those notices prompted teachers’ unions to renew calls for mandatory masks for younger students, and for the province to give individual schools and districts the authority to impose measures that exceed provincial guidelines.

Last Monday, the Minister of Education rejected these demands. At that point, no more cases had been identified at any of the affected schools.

“The testing that has been done so far has indicated no transmission, and really what that tells us is that our safety plans are working,” Jennifer Whiteside said.

“We need to make changes — if we’re going to make changes — based on evidence. At the moment, we need to let this process unfold and find out precisely what happened.”

Deputy Provincial Health Officer Dr. Reka Gustafson said these exposures would not prompt a change is the mask policy.

“Based on what we know about the new variants of COVID-19, I would not recommend a change in our masking recommendation. But as with everything else in this pandemic, We have continued to learn, we continue to review the evidence. At this moment, there’s no indication for the change in that recommendation,” she said.

On Feb. 4, the province announced that all middle and secondary students, as well as all staff and teachers from K-12, would be required to wear masks while in all indoor spaces at schools. Wearing masks remains a personal choice for elementary students in B.C., although many teachers do ask their students to wear them in the classroom.

With files from Denise Wong and Marcella Bernardo