Editor's note: This article has been updated throughout to include responses from AHS and CCSD.
Three students in the Calgary Catholic School Division (CCSD) have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a letter sent to parents March 19 by Chief Superintendent Dr. Bryan Szumlas.
"Our prayers go out to these students and their families. The names and schools of these students will not be released as sensitive health information is protected by the [Freedom of Information and Privacy] Act," Szumlas wrote.
According to the letter, the impacted school buildings have been declared safe by Alberta Health Services (AHS) and the school buildings remain open as the division monitors the situation.
"The principals of these schools will contact the community with an update from AHS and letters will be sent home," Szumlas said.
Felicia Zuniga, senior communications specialist with CCSD, said two of the students attended school while exhibiting symptoms of the virus, while the third did was not exhibit symptoms while at school. AHS is conducting investigations to determine the level of contact the students had with others, she said. Students have not been in CCSD schools since March 13, after the provincial government cancelled classes on March 15.
Catholic schools in Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere fall within CCSD's jurisdiction. AHS did not comment directly on whether people in those municipalites were at particular risk of having been exposed to the virus.
"AHS identifies and contacts directly any individual considered exposed to a case of COVID-19," Sabrina Atwal, senior advisor, Issues Management and Media Relations said via email. "This is called contact tracing and is done in response to each case of COVID-19 we confirm by lab testing."
Only people contacted directly by AHS are considered exposed to any case, she added. People who have not been contacted are not considered exposed and, to protect patient privacy, additional details were not provided.
"Again, we want to remind all of our families that if you have symptoms such as fever, cough and difficulty breathing, stay home, complete AHS' self-assessment tool or call Health Link at 811," Szumlas wrote.
"As a Calgary Catholic community, we continue to pray for those impacted by COVID-19 in our district and around the world."
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Ben Sherick, AirdrieToday.com
Follow me on Twitter @BenSherick
