COVID-19 exposures in Lower Mainland schools declining along with B.C. case count
The number of schools on COVID-19 exposure lists in B.C.'s Lower Mainland continued to decline this week, reaching its lowest level since early October.
The drop was driven by Fraser Health, which continues to account for the vast majority of school exposures in the Lower Mainland. There were 104 schools on the health authority's list as of Friday, down from 123 the previous week.
CTV News Vancouver tracking of COVID-19 exposures in schools in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health authorities.
Vancouver Coastal Health had just 11 schools on its list, and two of them are located on B.C.'s Central Coast, well outside the Lower Mainland.
Schools are added to the lists when a student or staff member tests positive and officials believe there is a risk of ongoing transmission to other members of the school community.
Fraser Health removes schools from its list two weeks after the last exposure date, while Vancouver Coastal Health removes schools four weeks after the last exposure date.
Exposure notifications are not posted for every case of COVID-19 associated with a school community, and schools are not added to the health authority lists until after close contacts have been notified directly by public health officials.
Earlier this week, health officials announced details of the province's plan to vaccinate children ages five to 11 against COVID-19.
According to provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, children under 12 account for about 20 per cent of B.C.'s COVID-19 cases, despite making up roughly 10 per cent of the total population.
Nearly 3,000 school exposure notifications had been issued at 835 different schools across the province from the start of the fall semester to Nov. 6, according to Henry.
About 12 per cent of schools in the province saw clusters of cases with in-school transmission, which the provincial health officer framed as evidence of the system working as intended.
"In 88 per cent of our schools across this province, we have not had any transmission events," she said at the time. "I think that's good news … It tells us what's happening in the schools is working to support children."
The median number of cases associated with clusters has increased this school year, going to three from two, which officials blamed on the Delta variant.
Henry also noted that a recent B.C. Centre for Disease Control investigation of school clusters found that most coronavirus transmission among school-aged children happens in the community or at home, rather than at school.
The declining number of school exposure notifications in the Lower Mainland comes alongside declining infection numbers across the province. On Friday, the rolling seven-day average for new cases confirmed in B.C. dropped to 352, the lowest it's been since Aug. 8.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Andrew Weichel
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.