(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

division working closely with AHS

First school-based COVID-19 case confirmed in Red Deer

Sep 11, 2020 | 10:21 PM

The first case of COVID-19 in a Red Deer school was confirmed Friday afternoon.

In a letter to parents from Escuela Vista Grande Principal Hans Huizing and obtained by rdnewsNOW, it’s noted that Red Deer Public Schools were informed Friday that an individual from the school has been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus.

It’s not stated if that individual is a student or staff member.

“Since becoming aware of this, we have been working closely with Alberta Health Services to ensure necessary measures continue to be in place to protect all students,” Huizing writes.

“Alberta Health Services will be contacting parents/guardians of students, as well as any staff/visitors who have been deemed to be in close contact with the case.”

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The letter reminds parents/guardians of students, as well as any staff and visitors to monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 by using the division’s daily checklist every day prior to attending school.

Information will continue to be provided to families as it becomes available.

“We appreciate that there are likely many questions you may have. We have no further details to share at this time and we are taking our direction from Alberta Health Services – Communicable Disease Control,” Huizing concludes.

“Unless otherwise advised, we anticipate that students will be back to school as usual on Monday. To ensure you are kept informed, I will be sending an update to our families Sunday afternoon.”

The case at Escuela Vista Grande does not fall under the province’s definition of an outbreak, which requires two or more cases at one school within a 14-day span that were acquired or transmitted in the school.

There are currently three outbreaks at schools in Alberta, two in Calgary (one elementary, one high), and at one high school in Lethbridge.

rdnewsNOW has reached out to Red Deer Public Schools and Alberta Health for more information.

As of Friday, there are 16 active cases and 80 recovered cases of COVID-19 in Red Deer.

(Submitted)