Possible COVID-19 exposures at 2 Winnipeg schools, public health officials warn

Manitoba public health officials are warning of possible COVID-19 exposures at two Winnipeg schools.

A person who was asymptomatic went to Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in the West Endon Wednesday in the morning and Thursday in the afternoon, according to a release from the province issued on Sunday.

The school confirmed in a letter to parents that the person is a student.

Meanwhile, another person went to John Pritchard School in North Kildonan all day Tuesday through Thursday also while asymptomatic.

The schools and cohort are being notified, the province says, but neither of the two people are believed to have caught the virus at school.

Additional cleaning of high-touch areas is being done at both schools, including electrostatic sprayingout of an abundance of caution.

Both schools confirm they'll be open for classes tomorrow.

Risk deemed low

The risk for both exposures is deemed low because physical distancing was maintained while at school and masks were worn, according to the release.

There are no close contacts connected to either case and public health officials have not advised anyone to self-isolate.

Neither school is being elevated underthe province's colour-codedpandemic response system, given the low risk and lack of close contacts, the provincialrelease said. All schools in province remain at the yellow, or "caution," level.

The province has now issued warnings about potential exposures at four schoolssince students went back to class, after people attended while asymptomatic.

On Wednesday, the province issued a news release warning that a Grade 7 student was in class at Winnipeg's Churchill High School on Tuesday, and used Winnipeg Transit while asymptomatic.

On Saturday, there was a potential exposure to the novel coronavirusconnected to aGrade 5 and6 classroom incole New Era School at 527 Louise Ave.,Brandon School Division superintendentMarc Casavant said in a news release that day.