More COVID-19 class cancellations in Metro Vancouver

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A primary school in Surrey and two Catholic schools in Vancouver are the latest to close because of COVID-19 concerns.

Coast Meridian Elementary in Surrey has sent an email to parents informing the school is shut down for the day after an unconfirmed diagnosis in the community.

“Last evening, we received communication that a member of the Coast Meridian community has tested positive for COVID-19. I want to first say that we have been unable, at this time, to confirm with the Health Authorities,” writes Supt. Jordan Tinney.

“In our current context, and exercising significant caution, we are closing Coast Meridian today [Wednesday] and we are dispatching a deep cleaning team to the school to begin a full and thorough cleaning.”

Parents are asked to monitor the school’s website for the latest news.

In East Vancouver, classes have also been cancelled at Notre Dame Regional Secondary, an independent Catholic high school.

“First and foremost it is important to understand that there are still no known cases of Covid-19 among the staff, students, and parents of Notre Dame,” reads a notice posted on the school’s website.

“However, Vancouver Coastal Health has confirmed that one of our feeder schools has reported a case involving a parent at that school who has been exposed to the virus and has tested positive.”

The notice says several students at Notre Dame have siblings at that elementary school and that students from that school have been at Notre Dame for different reasons on more than one occasion over the past seven days.

“Vancouver Coastal Health has not recommended a school closure at this time and maintains that the risk to staff and students remains low. However, with an abundance of caution and after consultation with the NDEC Chair, the school administration, and the CISVA Superintendent, we have decided to close the school, effective immediately, for the remainder of the current week as a proactive, precautionary measure.”

The school will undergo a deep cleaning prior to its expected re-opening after spring break on March 30.

Meanwhile, St. Francis of Assisi students in Vancouver are also missing class after the school was notified on Tuesday that a parent of a student tested positive for COVID-19.

“Vancouver Coastal Health informed the school that the school community was at low risk.  However, out of an abundance of caution, the school has made the decision to close the school for the remainder of the week, through Spring Break,” the associated superintendent says in an email to NEWS 1130.

St. Francis of Assisi is a feeder school to Notre Dame Regional Secondary and is also taking the appropriate measures to ensure its facilities are cleaned before students return, an email reads.