COVID-19 cases reported at multiple Island schools in first week

COVID-19 cases have been reported by an independent online tracker at multiple Vancouver Island schools following the first week of classes.

The independently operated online tool, BC School Covid Tracker, states that 12 different facilities on Vancouver Island have been linked to at least one case of COVID-19.

Two schools in the Cowichan Valley, Frances Kelsey Secondary and Bench Elementary, were added to the growing list at the end of last week on Friday, Sept. 10

Both schools show there has only been one COVID-19 exposure at this time and messages have been sent home to parents, guardians, students and staff informing the community about the case.

“I cried, you know. When that happened I was terrified. I asked a lot of questions because I have to know everything now,” said Quamichan School parent Jessica Charlie.

Monterey Middle School in Victoria was also added to the list last week, suggesting the possible exposure dates to the virus were on Sept. 7 and 8.

On Monday morning, nine more facilities across the Island were added to the COVID-19 tracker, including schools in Victoria, Sooke, Campbell River, Nanaimo and Duncan.

Sandowne Elementary in Campbell River had an exposure on Sept. 7.

Journey Middle School in Sooke had an exposure on Sept. 8.

Lake Hill Elementary and Sir James Douglas Elementary, two Victoria schools, were also added to the list on Monday morning, along with Departure Bay Elementary and Brechin Elementary in Nanaimo and three Duncan schools.

The three schools in Duncan include Quamichan School, Cowichan Secondary and Drinkwater Elementary.

Schools resumed in-class learning on Tuesday, September 7. The BC Teachers Federation has called for officials to make Covid-19 school exposures public, as they were in the previous two school years.

“The fact that we are into the second week of school and we already have this number of school exposure notifications without any assurances about how this information will be provided to the public is troubling,” said BCTF President Teri Mooring.

Students who are 12 years and older in British Columbia are being encouraged to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

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