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January 22, 2022 - 4:34 PM
Interior Health is investigating three Kamloops elementary schools and two South Okanagan schools after attendance dropped this week.
Interior Health’s rapid response team is investigating since the school’s absentee rates have increased by 25% in one or more classrooms, or exceeded 10% of its regular absentee rate for two days in a row, according to letters sent to parents Jan. 21 from South-Sahali Elementary and Aberdeen Elementary and Jan. 20 for Marion Schilling Elementary in Kamloops.
Called the “potential activity signal,” once this threshold has been met, the health authority investigates to determine what can be done to further mitigate the spread of the virus, up to a school closure.
Once a review is complete, any additional actions that are needed will be shared with the schools, according to the letters.
B.C. health officials delayed school reopenings after winter break due to the spread of the highly contagious omicron variant.
READ MORE: B.C.'s top doctor tells schools to make plans to operate short-staffed
A drop in attendance also prompted investigations at Tuc-El-Nuit Elementary in Oliver and Osoyoos Elementary in Osoyoos Jan. 20.
Interior Health did not immediately return a request for comment, Saturday afternoon, Jan. 22. The health authority is no longer reporting school exposures to the general public.
British Columbia's Education Ministry said graduation assessments for students in grades 10 to 12 will not take place this month due to COVID-19.
The ministry says in a statement that staffing issues have significantly affected the administration of the assessments.
- With files from The Canadian Press
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