Image from Eastbrook Elementary School/Facebook

By Chris Brown

In-person Kindergarten temporarily suspended

COVID-19 outbreak at Eastbrook Elementary School in Brooks

Nov 2, 2020 | 9:48 AM

BROOKS, AB – In-person Kindergarten classes at Eastbrook Elementary School in Brooks have been temporarily postponed after the school was placed on outbreak status by Alberta Health Services.

A COVID-19 outbreak within a school setting is defined by AHS as “two or more confirmed cases occur in a school within a 14 day period.”

Learning from home will occur from Nov. 2-10 and Kindergarten teachers will be reaching out to families with programming, says the school division.

Last week, Eastbrook announced a person diagnosed with COVID-19 had last been in the school on Oct. 23.

In a statement, Grasslands Public Schools says it “learned COVID-19 had been diagnosed in two additional individuals who were within Eastbrook Elementary School earlier last week.”

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“AHS investigation to date, a number of close contacts have been identified and will be receiving AHS letters,” says the release. “Public Health and the school will work closely together to ensure accurate contact tracing. If you are not contacted by AHS , you and/or your children are not considered close contacts and no further action is required.”

The release also says enhanced cleaning protocols are in effect and are focusing on areas the cases were present, high touch areas and surfaces throughout the facility.

The release also reminds families to monitor for any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 using the Alberta Health Daily Checklist and asks people to complete the checklist each day prior to attending school. It also asks that if you or a member of your family has any of the symptoms of illness listed, to fill out the online Alberta Health Services COVID-19 self-assessment or call Health Link at 811.

Last week an outbreak was declared at Rosemary School, also in the Grasslands division.

In the past week, COVID-19 cases have been connected to Brooks Junior High School and Brooks Composite High School.

Brooks was a hotpsot for the virus earlier this year, with more than 1,000 active cases in the spring. There are 36 active cases as of Friday, the latest update from the province.