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Private school becomes second Greater Victoria school with COVID-19 exposure

Victoria School for Ideal Education follows Lakeview Christian School in Saanich
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Victoria School for Ideal Education at 2820 Belmont Avenue is the second school in Greater Victoria with an active confirmed COVID-19 exposure. (Travis Paterson/News Staff)

A private school in Victoria has become the second educational facility in Greater Victoria with a confirmed COVID-19 exposure.

Island Health said on the website that the exposure was Nov. 16 and 17 at the Victoria School for Ideal Education at 2820 Belmont Ave.

Island Health defines any exposure as a “single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” who attended school during their infectious period.

It is not clear how many individuals within the school and the community-at-large came in contact with said person.

Cheryl Bloxham, spokesperson for the Island Health, said the authority does not release such details as per provincial directions for privacy reasons.

Bloxham later added that Island Health’s medical health officers and public health team have worked with staff to identify anyone who may have been exposed with contact tracing complete.

“Those identified as close contacts have been instructed to self-isolate,” she said.

Bloxham said Island Health wants to reassure parents and students at the school concerned about COVID-19 that this exposure remains to limited to Nov. 16 and 17.

“Ongoing COVID-19 risk to staff and students at the school from this exposure has not been identified,” she said.

RELATED: Island Health reports COVID-19 exposure at Saanich school

Island Health noted in a general statement on its website that being notified does not necessarily mean staff and students have been exposed to COVID-19.

“Public Health will work with the school and school district to ensure close contacts are notified directly and provided specific guidance,” the website reads. “If you do not receive a phone call or letter from Public Health, your child should continue to attend school.”

Victoria School for Ideal Education, a private school providing instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 8, is the second Greater Victoria school to appear on Island Health’s website listing educational facilities.

Lakeview Christian School at 729 Cordova Bay Rd. in Saanich recorded an exposure on Nov. 16.

As of Monday morning, eight educational facilities on Vancouver Island appear on the list, with five schools falling into the category of exposure, with the remaining three falling into the category of cluster. Island Health defines a cluster as “two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection” who attended school during their infectious period. “The cases may be linked to school-based transmission.”

The eight school cases were declared during the last three weeks, with three archived cases going back further.

The school did not return a phone call seeking comment.


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wolfgang.depner@peninsulanewsreview.com



Wolf Depner

About the Author: Wolf Depner

I joined the national team with Black Press Media in 2023 from the Peninsula News Review, where I had reported on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula since 2019.
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