(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Within the last two weeks, only two school districts in the Interior have reported potential COVID-19 exposures.

Central Okanagan Public Schools announced COVID-19 exposures April 2 with the school district at Bankhead Elementary, Constable Neil Bruce Middle, Davidson Road Elementary, Hudson Road Elementary, École Kelowna Secondary School and Pearson Road Elementary. Interior Health did not have the Central Okanagan school exposures posted on its website as of April 3.

Individuals are self-isolating at home with support from local public health teams. Interior Health follows up with anyone potentially exposed to a confirmed case directly through contact tracing, according to the school district.

“Central Okanagan Public Schools will continue to work closely with Interior Health to determine if any additional actions are required, and to support ongoing communication to the affected school community. As always, we remind people to stay home from school if they show any symptoms,” according to the district’s news release.

The health authority’s website did list Aberdeen Hall Preparatory. The private school had a potential exposure March 29.

In the SD 73 Kamloops Thompson school district, potential exposures were reported at NorKam Secondary March 22-23, Westmount Elementary March 23-25 and at Logan Lake Elementary School March 29-30.

No other exposures were reported in Southern Interior school districts in the last two weeks, according to the health authority's website.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has said repeatedly said COVID-19 cases in schools are a reflection of cases in the community.

This week, the province announced all kindergarten to Grade 12 school staff and all students in Grades 4 through 12 in B.C. are required to wear non-medical masks in all indoor areas, including while at work stations.

READ MORE: Kamloops teacher raises concerns with new school mask mandate, COVID measures

The number of new COVID-19 cases in the Central Okanagan doubled to 141 in the week of March 21 to 27, compared to 70 the week before. At the same time, the number of cases in Kamloops was cut by almost half to 30 from 56.

Overall, the number of new cases in Interior Health climbed to 325 last week from 185 the week before and is now at the highest level since the first week of February.

READ MORE: Central Okanagan COVID-19 cases double in past week; fall in Kamloops

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