Fraser Health is recommending the entire population of Abbotsford Christian Middle and Secondary School take COVID tests, after a continuous 10-day exposure has led to a COVID cluster.
Several students and staff have been infected, according to Abbotsford Christian School’s (ACS) administration team on their website.
“Some of us are sick with the virus, many more of us are in self-isolation as a result of being in close contact, and the rest of us are wondering when it might be our turn,” said Julius Siebenga, executive director, on behalf of the administration.
“These are not easy times and we need to stay focused on being unified now more than ever; so we ask you to adhere to the testing expectations that Fraser Health is requesting of us.”
There were exposures at Abbotsford Christian Middle every day for a two-week period, from April 26 until May 7, according to a notification letter from Fraser Health.
ACS operates a elementary, middle and high school campus.
The latter two, Grades 5 to 12, have been functionally closed until May 25, according to the administration, and all students are being recommended for a PCR test.
The elementary school is also being affected by several cases which have been linked to household transmissions, Siebenga said.
“While we anticipate that there may be limited additional cases at that campus, at this time the elementary campus is a safe place for students and staff to attend,” he said.
The PCR tests will take place over the next three days, from May 14 to 17.
“Although we cannot legally require this of everyone, we are highly recommending that everyone adhere to this recommendation from Fraser Health. They believe it will help to better understand the cluster moving through the school and will allow us to get back to in-class instruction safely,” Siebenga said.
RELATED: 36 Abbotsford schools flagged for COVID-19 exposures in the last 2 weeks, shattering record
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