B.C. schools doing a ‘very good job’ curbing COVID-19 transmissions: Dr. Henry

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Despite increased testing of children and worrisome exposure notices being issued, data shows B.C. is doing a “very good job” curtailing transmission of COVID-19 in schools, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry.

While presenting the latest numbers on the coronavirus in the province Thursday, Henry stressed that nine out of 10 schools have recorded zero cases of the coronavirus among staff and students.

“This is something we’ve been watching very closely,” Henry said. “There’ve been a lot of coughs and runny noses, and a lot of children tested. Most school-aged children with symptoms continue not to have COVID-19 — which is good news.”

The break down of where transmissions are happening. Showing social interactions are at the base of most of them. Says schools/daycares seeing some cases but certainly not where most transmissions at all are happening. #bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19 #bced pic.twitter.com/dbbLL02Qqg

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 12, 2020

There are 1,942 schools in British Columbia, and exposure notices have been issued at 261.

Henry emphasized that an exposure notice is issued as a result of someone in the school community, which includes all staff and students, “being in the school environment during their infectious period.”

That, she stresses, is not the same as transmission — someone getting infected as a direct result of exposure at their school.

“The measures that we have in place — particularly screening out people who are ill, catching them early, making sure that we’re reducing the probability of transmissions in schools —  are working,” she said.

“This has been a focus because we know how essential is it for our children to be in those environments for their education, for their growth, for their development, for their future.”

Looking at cases in kids – Dr Henry says doing 2.5 times more testing since August.
School age cases remain less than 10% of cases (this is over all since since start of pandemic – has exceeded that in weeks since school started)#bcpoli @NEWS1130 #covid19 #bced pic.twitter.com/GYu4DVE5nb

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) November 12, 2020

There have been fewer than a dozen transmissions, and just one outbreak at a school in Kelowna.

“Teachers have risen to this occasion, everyone in the school setting is doing their best to make sure that it continues to be a safe environment. These numbers tell us that we’re doing a very good job of that.”