Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School. (Lethbridge School Division)

By David Opinko

Third COVID case at Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School where outbreak is active

Nov 17, 2020 | 1:24 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Alberta Health Services (AHS) has notified the Lethbridge School Division of another positive test for COVID-19 at a local school.

As of Tuesday, November 17, three cases have been confirmed at Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School. It was not stated whether the affected persons were staff or students.

Officials are working to identify close contacts, who will be contacted by the school via email.

“At this time, based on advice from Alberta Education, Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School will remain open,” reads a statement from the Lethbridge School Division.

Those who contracted the virus will be quarantined immediately.

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When it comes to schools, the Alberta Government defines a COVID-19 outbreak as “two or more confirmed cases in your school setting (staff/child) within a 14-day period (one incubation period) OR two or more confirmed cases staff child) that are epidemiologically linked.

To help minimize the spread of any respiratory virus, AHS always recommends the following:

• Make sure everyone in your household washes their hands with soap and water often. If soap and water are not available, you can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if hands are not visibly dirty
• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
• Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw it in a garbage bin lined with a plastic bag. Wash your hands immediately after that. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve
• Stay home if you’re sick. If your kids are sick, keep them home from school
• Clean and disinfect surfaces that are used often and shared by everyone in your home such as door knobs, light switches and bathroom taps
• Practice physical distancing outside the home (at least 2 metres) and wear a mask in public spaces if social distancing is not possible
• Ensure your child’s immunizations are up to date, including their annual influenza immunization

The outbreak was first declared on November 3.

NOTE: This article originally stated that the outbreak was just declared at the school, not that there is now a third case at a school where an outbreak already exists.