Interior Health has confirmed four additional cases of COVID-19 at Kelowna French-language school 脡cole de lsa国际传媒橝nse-au-sable, bringing the outbreaksa国际传媒檚 case-count to 15.
The health authority said approximately 175 people remain directed to self-isolate for 14 days.
After an analysis of the schoolsa国际传媒檚 population and its available human resources, School District 93 (Conseil Scolaire Francophone) had sa国际传媒渘o choicesa国际传媒� but to close the school until Nov. 4, it stated in an email to the Capital News.
During her briefing on Monday, Oct. 26, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry spoke of the lsa国际传媒橝nse-au-sable outbreak.
sa国际传媒淲e knew, of course, this would be a possibility, especially in some of the smaller schools where the potential of exposure impacts a larger proportion of the school population,sa国际传媒� says Henry.
sa国际传媒淲hile the numbers of people with COVID-19 are small, the requirement for those in contact to be in self-isolation has meant the school can no longer safely operate, so schools are working with families to ensure educational opportunities continue remotely during this period.sa国际传媒�
脡cole de lsa国际传媒橝nse-au-sable is not part of School District 23, the Central Okanagansa国际传媒檚 main public school district.
READ MORE: Interior Health reports 24 additional COVID-19 cases
READ MORE: COVID-19 cases confirmed at two private Kelowna schools
However, two positive, but separate cases of the virus have been reported at SD23sa国际传媒檚 Kelowna Secondary School. The first case was announced Sunday and another was announced Monday, but Interior Health said the latter of the two was acquired within the personsa国际传媒檚 household.
sa国际传媒淭he safety and well-being of students, families, and staff remains our highest priority,sa国际传媒� the school district said in a news release. sa国际传媒淐entral Okanagan Public Schools will continue to implement the strict health and safety protocols and procedures that are in place so students and staff can continue to attend school as safely as possible.sa国际传媒�
It is not known at this time whether the infected people are students, staff or faculty members.
Two Kelowna private schools have also noted cases of the virus, at Aberdeen Hall and St. Joseph Catholic School.
The head of Aberdeen, Chris Grieve, stated in a letter to studentssa国际传媒� families that someone in their preschool community had tested positive for the virus.
sa国际传媒淚nterior Health has assessed this situation and the exposure risk is limited to the preschool,sa国际传媒� Grieve said. sa国际传媒淭here is no known exposure to the kindergarten, to Grade 12 students, or staff.sa国际传媒�
He added that if families havensa国际传媒檛 been contacted by IH, this means their student wasnsa国际传媒檛 exposed and it is safe for them to return to school.
Interior Health listed St. Joseph Catholic School as having a case present in the school on Oct. 21 and 22.
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .
