R.D. Parker Collegiate notified students’ parents and guardians in a Feb. 5 email that at least one person who had tested positive for COVID-19 was in the school Jan. 28-29 and Feb. 1-2 in the L to Z cohort of students.
The email said that the risk of exposure was considered low and that close contacts had been identified and advised to self-isolate. A letter from public health said students whose parents or guardians did not hear from public health officials within two days of receiving the letter have not been identified as possibly being exposed to the virus as a result of these incidents.
Overall there have now been 12 notifications about possible public exposures to COVID-19 at School District of Mystery Lake schools, including four at RDPC, three at Westwood School, two at Wapanohk Community School, where an outbreak was declared by public health Jan. 29, and one each at Burntwood, Deerwood and École Riverside. Wapanohk has been remote learning only for all students, except those who are high risk, have special needs or have parents who are essential workers, since school resumed after the Christmas break. Remote learning at the school was extended by another week Feb. 4. In-person classes may resume for all students on Feb. 16, depending on the situation.
Anyone who develops fever or chills, a cough, a sore throat or hoarse voice, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, or vomiting or diarrhea for more than 24 hours is instructed to isolate from others and seek COVID-19 testing within 24 hours after symptoms appear. The same advice applies to anyone who gets two or more of the following symptoms: runny nose, muscle aches, fatigue, pink eye, a headache, a skin rash of unknown cause or a loss of appetite.
People with these symptoms who do not get tested must self-isolate for 10 days following the start of symptoms. Isolation can be discontinued after 10 days if the person has been symptom-free for 24 hours.
People with COVID-19 may be infectious for two days before they begin showing symptoms.
