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(JOHN MCDONALD / iNFOnews.ca)

Interior Health is reporting eight COVID-19 exposure events within the last two weeks at Central Okanagan schools, with the latest confirmed case announced at KLO Middle School.

Central Okanagan Public Schools reported Nov. 20 that the middle school had a confirmed case of the virus and the person is currently self-isolating at home.

As with all COVID-19 school exposures, Interior Health follows up with anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case directly through contact tracing.

The eight  Central Okanagan schools that have had COVID-19 exposures include Casorso Elementary, Okanagan Missionary School, Kelowna Secondary School, KLO Middle School, Okanagan Mission Secondary, and Mount Boucherie. Exposure events were also reported at Kelowna private schools, Heritage Christian School and Kelowna Immaculata Regional High School.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, has said cases in schools are a reflection of cases in the community. 

“So we're looking at what measures can help us reduce risk in our communities and therefore protect our schools… we can see that transmission rates are less in schools than they are in other parts of our communities. (It is) also incredibly important for families and for children to have in-person in class, but we're looking at all of our options there are a whole bunch of things that are happening,” she said during a press conference this week.

There have also been school exposures reported in other areas of the Interior within the last two weeks, including in Vernon at Mission Hill Elementary School and in Kimberly at Kimberley Independent.

For more information on school exposures, visit the health authority's website.

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