By Chris Brown

Not cause for alarm, says Hinshaw

AHS investigating first transmission of COVID-19 in school in Edmonton

Sep 18, 2020 | 1:23 PM

At a special COVID-19 update Friday, Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that Alberta Health Services has identified its first case of COVID-19 likely transmitted within a school

“This is not unexpected and not a cause for alarm,” she said. “However, I know that many are anxious about school safety and I felt it was important to share this information with you and to talk about what it means.”

The transmission was identified at Waverley School in Edmonton, said the chief medical officer of health. Two cases have been identified that were in the school while infectious, “one of whom seems to be the source for the other.”

Hinshaw said parents should know the school did nothing wrong, and asked media not to target the school. She said that happened this week when a Calgary school was placed on the provincial “watch” list.

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Hinshaw said she believes it’s critical for the media to report diverse perspectives and report accurately on what’s happening in schools. She said her concerns are about the physical presence of media at schools or if media were to amplify one perspective over and above others.

“I think the responsibility and the role of media is to report all the facts, to make sure that the public as access to accurate information. To make sure that information is shared along with a diversity of perspectives,” she said.

“And if there are parents or students who wish to share their stories they should not be constrained in doing so. But what I feel is really important is to make sure that that is done while respecting the impact that has on that overall school community.”

Currently, only 57 of the 2,415 schools in the province have reported an infectious case that attended the school, said Hinshaw.

No local schools are classified as having outbreaks on the provincial website. The province classifies schools as having an outbreak if two cases are found to have been in a school while infectious within 14 days.

The website Support Our Students is tracking instances of cases in schools across the province. The only local school on the list remains Ecole St. John Paul II, which was added in late August.

The situational update of COVID-19 cases province-wide will be posted online at the usual 3:30 p.m. time.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw will provide another in-person update on Monday afternoon.