Northern Health updates this list with the notification information of possible exposures to COVID-19 within schools in the NH region. We are providing this information so school staff, students and parents can be assured that Public Health is following up in their community and exposure risks are being mitigated to the best of our ability.
COVID-19 school notification process:
If a student or teacher receives a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result, Public Health follows a rigorous protocol:
- Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with.
- We identify and notify close contacts who may be at an increased risk, and advise them to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for 14 days.
- Only Public Health can determine who is a close contact. Learning groups, friends or other connections may not be determined to be a close contact.
- Public Health staff works closely with the school and school district throughout the case and contact management process to maintain close communication with the school community.
If your child’s school receives a notification of exposure:
A notification does not mean your child has been exposed to COVID-19.
If you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health, your child should continue to attend school. You can monitor your child for COVID-19 symptoms daily using the BC COVID-19 Health Assessment Tool.
For more information and resources regarding COVID-19, visit our Coronavirus Information (COVID-19) page or B.C.'s Back to School Plan
If your child’s school has been notified of an exposure, no action is required unless you are contacted by Public Health or are otherwise directed by school officials.
Public Health will contact you directly in case of any school exposure involving your child.
School district: | School name: | Event: | Exposure date: |
---|---|---|---|
SD 91 (Nechako Lakes) | Decker Lake Elementary School, Decker Lake | Exposure | January 4-6, 2021 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | Prince George Secondary School | Exposure | January 6-7, 2021 |
SD 82 (Coast Mountains) | Uplands Elementary School, Terrace | Exposure | January 4-6, 2021 |
Independent (Fort Nelson First Nation) | Chalo School | Exposure | January 5-7, 2021 |
SD 28 (Quesnel) | McNaughton Secondary School | Exposure | January 6-8, 2021 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | DP Todd Secondary School | Exposure | January 4- 6, 2021 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | Valemount Secondary School | Exposure | January 6, 2021 |
SD 82 (Coast Mountains) | Skeena Middle School, Terrace | Exposure | January 4, 2021 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Ecole Central Elementary, Fort St. John | Exposure | January 4, 2021 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | North Peace Secondary School, Fort St. John | Exposure | January 4, 2021 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | College Heights Secondary School | Exposure | December 17-18, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: January 1, 2021 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | North Peace Secondary School, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 16-17, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 31, 2020 |
SD 91 (Nechako Lakes) | Lakes District Secondary School, Burns Lake | Exposure | December 17, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 31, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Charlie Lake Elementary School | Exposure | December 14-18, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: January 1, 2021 |
Independent (Dawson Creek) | Mountain Christian School Society | Exposure | December 18, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: January 1, 2021 |
Independent (Prince George) | Cedars Christian School | Exposure | December 14-16, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 30, 2020 |
Independent (Terrace) | Centennial Christian School | Exposure | December 14-15, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 29, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Burt Ambrose Elementary, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 17-18, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: January 1, 2021 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | Pinewood Elementary | Exposure | December 14-18, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: January 1, 2021 |
SD 54 (Bulkley Valley) | Walnut Park Elementary, Smithers | Exposure | December 13-15, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 29, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Margaret Ma Murray Community School, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 14-16, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 30, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | North Peace Secondary School, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 14-17, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 31, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Alwin Holland Elementary, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 14-17, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 31, 2020 |
SD 60 (Peace River North) | Bert Bowes Middle School, Fort St. John | Exposure | December 14-16, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 30, 2020 |
SD 57 (Prince George) | Pinewood Elementary | Exposure | December 14-15, 2020, Self-monitoring end date: December 29, 2020 |
SD 82 (Coast Mountains) | Thornhill Primary School, Terrace | Exposure | December 4, December 7-11, and December 14-17, 2020, Self-monitoring end date for the last exposure: December 31, 2020 |
*Individual school exposures will be removed from the list approximately one month after the last exposure date.
A public exposure (alert) is issued when public health officials are unable to ensure they can identify and directly contact everybody who may have been exposed to a potentially infectious case of COVID-19 in a public setting where they may have been in close contact. NH will update this public exposures page with information if and when there is a possible exposure to COVID-19 to the public in our region.
The possible exposures listed on this site are believed to be low risk but, out of an abundance of caution, Public Health asks anyone who may have visited any of the locations listed on the specified dates and times to monitor themselves for symptoms.
There is no known risk to anyone who attended any listed locations outside of the specified dates and times. If people remain healthy and do not develop symptoms, there is no need to self-isolate and people can continue with their usual daily activities. If you develop any symptoms of COVID-19, please self isolate and contact the COVID-19 Online Clinic and Information Line for Northern BC residents: 1-844-645-7811, or contact your primary care provider. If you have been identified as a COVID-19 case or close contact, please know that NH Public Health will contact you directly and provide further instruction.
City/Town: | Location: | Address: | Potential exposure date(s): | Potential exposure time: |
---|---|---|---|---|
*Locations will be removed from the list approximately one month after the last exposure date.
For notifications of public exposures related to flights, work sites, cruises, long-distance bus and train travel, and public events, please visit the B.C. Centre for Disease Control public exposures page.
For more information and resources regarding COVID-19, visit our Coronavirus Information (COVID-19) page.
The following list includes any outbreaks of COVID-19 declared in Northern Health region communities or facilities. (For information on non-COVID-19 outbreaks in NH facilities, please see below). As with public exposures, please remember that if you have been identified as a COVID-19 case or close contact, NH Public Health will contact you directly and provide further instruction.
City/Town: | Location: | Outbreak type: | Date declared: | Date declared over: |
---|---|---|---|---|
Prince George | University Hospital of Northern BC - Rehab Unit | On-site outbreak | January 4, 2021 | |
Prince George |
University Hospital of Northern BC – Internal Medicine Unit (IMU) |
On-site outbreak |
December 29, 2020 |
|
Burns Lake LHA (Burns Lake area), Nechako LHA (Fraser Lake area) |
7 Mile Lodge, Little Rock Lake Lodge |
On-site outbreak |
December 19, 2020 |
|
Kitimat | LNG Canada Project site (Diversified) | On-site outbreak | December 16, 2020 | January 11, 2021 |
Prince George | Jubilee Lodge | On-site outbreak | December 12, 2020 | |
Fort St. John | North Peace Seniors Housing Society apartments | On-site outbreak | November 22, 2020 | December 25, 2020 |
Kitimat | LNG Canada Project site | On-site outbreak | November 19, 2020 | December 25, 2020 |
Outbreaks of non-COVID-19 illnesses/infectious diseases, such as respiratory infections (e.g. influenza), gastrointestinal illnesses (e.g. norovirus), and Clostridium difficile (C.diff), in any hospitals, long-term care facilities, other health facilities within the Northern Health region, or those that are licensed under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, are included here.
An outbreak occurs when more than two people have the same illness that can be linked back to one source or cause. The medical health officer determines when an outbreak will be declared. For C. difficile, an outbreak is declared when the number of cases increases above what is normally experienced.
Please note that the threshold for declaration of an outbreak is not extremely high (i.e. it takes only a handful of cases of illnesses for us to declare an outbreak), so that we can control and end an outbreak early, before it can affect more people.
If you are intending to visit a facility listed below, please consider postponing your visit until the outbreak is over, in order to help keep you and your loved ones healthy.
City/Town: | Facility/Unit: | Outbreak type: | Date declared: | Date declared over: |
---|---|---|---|---|
What should I do when an outbreak occurs?
The best way to prevent the spread of infections is to wash your hands, practice proper sneeze/cough etiquette, and to get an annual flu shot. We also encourage you to stay home if you are or have recently been ill.
Please avoid visiting an affected facility during an outbreak. If the situation is urgent and you must visit the facility, please ensure you are feeling well, and speak to staff about any precautions that may be necessary.
- Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand rub product when visiting and when you leave.
- Follow instructions given by staff.
- Look for signs with further instructions.
How does Northern Health respond to an outbreak?
We have strict infection control practices that follow provincial guidelines which we adhere to when an outbreak is declared.