Five Nanaimo-Ladysmith schools have seen COVID-19 exposures in the last week, however medical health officers maintain transmission in schools is not occurring. (File Photos/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

COVID schools

‘Schools are safe:’ Island Health MHO after five schools see COVID exposures

Nov 17, 2020 | 5:31 AM

NANAIMO — Island Health wants students and parents to know schools haven’t proven to be sources of COVID-19 transmission.

Clusters of cases in three Nanaimo schools were confirmed in recent days, while exposure events at two other schools in SD 68 were also reported.

Dr. Sandra Allison, interim medical health officer for the central Vancouver Island area, said social interactions and sporting events outside of school have driven COVID-19 activity in Nanaimo-area schools.

“Almost all social contact outside of the school ends up being the source of the infection that we’re able to determine,” Dr. Allison told NanaimoNewsNOW. “My advice to parents is school is safe, the schools are doing an amazing job, public health is working very closely with them.”

Concerns arose in social media posts online from parents about exposure dates in schools being revealed several days later.

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Dr. Allison said contact tracing efforts involving rising case loads and difficulties contacting impacted parties is creating challenges.

“There’s some time lags and then we collect a careful history, including where those people were. This process does take time.”

As of Monday, Nov. 16, there are 99 active COVID-19 cases within Island Health. The central Vancouver Island area, which includes Nanaimo, has the most active cases at 50.

Currently 404 people are isolating throughout Island Health.

Dr. Allison said it’s clear people infected with COVID-19 regionally aren’t being as prudent about their circle of contacts.

“We are seeing an increasing number of contacts that people are naming. This indeed generates an incredible amount of work for Island Health.”

Dr. Allison said there are increasing numbers of people who can’t name who they’ve had close contact with in the previous week.

She said it appears COVID-19 fatigue is setting in for many people who are more relaxed about safety measures despite the rising threat of the virus.

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