In-school coronavirus transmission confirmed in Alberta

Sep 18 2020, 7:56 pm

Alberta has confirmed its first known case of in-school transmission at an elementary school in Edmonton.

It appears one person passed their infection to another at Waverley School, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said at a news briefing Friday.

“While it is always difficult to say with 100% certainty where transmission happens, given the facts in this situation it seems to be a likely explanation,” she said.

The two individuals from the school tested positive for the virus on Thursday, according to a statement from Edmonton Public Schools.

Waverley will remain open for now, and will be “thoroughly cleaned,” according to the school district.

Hinshaw stressed that the school did nothing wrong, and that coronavirus transmission in school was always inevitable — especially given rising numbers of cases in the community.

“There’s no evidence to suggest school will need to transition to different learning model,” Hinshaw said.

The school district says seven staff members and 12 students from Waverley’s mixed Grade 1 and Grade 2 class are currently in self-isolation at home because they had close contact with one of the individuals.

 

Megan DevlinMegan Devlin

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