UPDATE: Alberta Health Services has declared an outbreak at Wilson Middle School. The Lethbridge School Division says it was notified of two positive cases on Nov. 1. According to AHS, an outbreak is declared when there are two or more cases confirmed within a 14 day period or if there are two or more cases that are epidemiologically linked. Wilson Middle School remains open based on advice from Alberta Education.
Alberta Health Services has also issued an alert for G.S. Lakie Middle School and Galbraith Elementary School after confirming one case of COVID-19 at each site.
Several schools have reported single cases in the past week though it’s not publicly known if the people infected have been students or staff.
While AHS is responsible for contact tracing, the Lethbridge School Division says the schools and public health officials will work closely together to inform those who will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
The district says close contacts will be notified by email.
The schools have also been given recommendations about cleaning measures and other control measures to reduce the risk of further transmission.
G.S. Lakie and Galbraith are expected to open Monday, Nov. 2 as normal.
Meanwhile, Alberta Health Services has placed Winston Churchill High School on Watch status.
The school is now required to follow AHS direction and protocol.
A watch status is declared when a school has five or more cases where COVID-19 could have been acquired or transmitted in the school.
To date, AHS has notified the Lethbridge School Division that there are five cases at WCHS.
The district says, based on advice from AHS, the school will remain open at this time.
Close contacts have been notified and must quarantine for the amount of time specified in the close-contact letter.
