A teacher at Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School (MEMSS) has tested positive for COVID-19.
Having no symptoms at work, the teacher finished their shift and left on Friday, March 12 around noon. At 2 p.m. they started feeling a tickle in their throat and contacted health authorities and reported their symptoms.
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Unable to be tested until Tuesday, March 16, the teacher stayed home and followed all health and safety protocols until they were diagnosed.
Members of the Kitimat school community found out about the information and posted it to ‘The Kitimaat, Kitimat and Community Awareness site’. the teacher responded to the post and informed everyone about their results while emphasizing how they’ve been following all health and safety protocols.
“TRUST me, I would never be at work with symptoms! I would NEVER put my students or coworkers at risk,” the teacher wrote.
the teacher also wrote about how they hope the message gets out to the public.
“I am responding because I feel it is my responsibility as a community member to be open,” the teacher wrote.
With more than 150 likes on their response, many wished the teacher well and a speedy recovery.
“Get well soon ******! Don’t blame yourself, it’s a virus thank you for being open,” one member wrote.
“Take care ******. Crazy times. Even with protocols in place and followed you just never know. I hope we are able to get the vaccine soon,” another member wrote.
Public health follows a rigorous protocol if a student or teacher receives a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result. Contact tracing is initiated to determine how the individual was infected and who they were in close contact with.
Public health also identifies and notifies close contacts who may be at an increased risk and advises them to self-isolate and monitor symptoms for 14 days.
People that have been in contact with someone who has the virus are asked to self-monitor and report and symptoms.
Exposure notices have been posted to Northern Health’s public exposures and outbreaks page for Mount Elizabeth as well as for another Kitimat school, Kildala Elementary.
Following protocols, Coast Mountains School District #82 has also been notified from northern health about two recent outbreaks.
Between March 7 to March 13, the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) reported a total of 11 new cases in the Kitimat area.