The Nanaimo Ladysmith Public School District (School District 68) has confirmed that there is an additional COVID-19 exposure at John Barsby Secondary School.
The district is reporting Friday that there was a COVID-19 exposure at the school on Nov. 9 and 10.
Friday’s report is in addition to a previous exposure at the school on Nov. 5 and 6.
The school district says due to the two exposures, the school is now considered to have a cluster event.
According to a Facebook post made by the district, the individual who tested positive is currently at home isolating.
Island Health officials have also completed contact tracing with anyone who may have had direct exposure to the individual, adds the district.
On the Island Health ‘Exposures In Schools’ page, officials say, “if your child’s school has been notified of an exposure, no action is required unless you are contacted by Public Health or are otherwise directed by school officials.”
“A notification…does not necessarily mean your child has been exposed to COVID-19,” Island Health adds.
In addition to the multiple exposures at John Barsby Secondary School, Island Health reported earlier this month that another school in the district, Dover Bay Secondary School, had also experienced an exposure on Nov. 6.
Dale Burgos, the school district’s director of communication, told CHEK that a student tested positive for the virus. He said it is connected to a previous exposure where an individual was at the school on Nov. 2 and Nov. 5 and later tested positive for the virus.
“I can confirm that a second case has been confirmed at Dover Bay. It is related to the first and the individual has been isolating and did not attend school this week,” Burgos said in an e-mailed statement.
As a result, Dover Bay Secondary School is also no longer defined as an exposure but as a cluster.
Island Health, along with District 68, is recommending that everyone perform daily health checks, stay home when feeling ill, wear a mask when outside your cohort or family bubble and limit social activity.
More information on COVID-19 symptoms can be found here.
Graham Cox
