RE: Potential COVID-19 exposure to children and staff of Fort Nelson Secondary School, Fort Nelson, in attendance October 15th and 16th, 2020.

Population & Public Health – Regional Office

600-299 Victoria Street (Suite 810) Prince George, BC V2L 588

Telephone (250) 565-2649

October 28, 2020

Northern Health Authority has informed the principal of Fort Nelson Secondary School that students and staff may have been in contact with a lab-confirmed case of COVID-19 on October 15th and 161h, 2020

Every school in BC has a COVID-19 safety plan in place. In this circumstance, the safety plan was followed precisely- and because of this, the risk of additional cases is very low. We recognize that learning of a potential exposure to COVID-19 may cause concern for families, and we hope to address some of those concerns with the following information.

COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets when a person who is infected coughs or sneezes. If you are in close contact with an infected person, the virus can enter the body if droplets get into the eyes, nose, or throat. It can also be spread when a healthy person touches an object or surface (e.g. a doorknob or a table) with the virus on it, and then touches their mouth, nose, or eyes before washing their hands.

Exposure to a confirmed case does not mean you or your child will become sick with COVID-19. COVID-19 has a very low infection rate in children, and most are not at high risk. We expect to see COVID-19 cases in various community settings, including school settings, but we expect the risk of transmission in school to be low in most circumstances. The risk of transmission becomes more significant if someone is considered a close contact.

NH public health staff follows up directly with anyone who is identified as a close contact of a lab confirmed case. It is important to note that a close contact is a person who has been in direct, face-to face contact for prolonged periods of time with an infectious case. People with COVID-19 are considered contagious (infectious) from 48 hours before onset of their symptoms (before they may realize they are sick), up until10 days after their symptoms began. More information on the definition of a high-risk close contact, can be found here: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-professionals/clinical resources/case-definitions/covid-19-(novel-coronavirus)

If you or your child has no symptoms and you have not been informed personally by public health that they are a close contact and should self-isolate- you and your children are not required to self-isolate. However, please take extra care to monitor your child/children for symptoms until October 30, 2020 midnight (which is 14 days from the last date of possible contact with the confirmed case).

Testing is not recommended or needed if you or your child has no symptoms because it is not accurate or useful when a person has no symptoms. If you or your child develops symptoms, a health assessment is recommended via your primary care provider or by calling Northern Health’s COVID-19

Information Line and Online Clinic at 1-844-645-7811.