Killarney Guide

BY KIM LANGEN

A local school has closed its doors, after more than two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed at the location.

The first case was reported last Wednesday, May 12, after a member of the school community tested positive for COVID-19. 

By Monday, May 17, the number had increased to three infected people, said Killarney School, and students would soon hear the call to return to remote learning.

“We had one additional case reported today,” said school principal Terry Beazley, in a letter to parents and guardians that day. “This case is of a student, and is related to a previously reported case in Grade 8. This newest case brings us now to a total of three active cases, two students and one staff member.”

On Tuesday, May 18, the school received a directive from Public Health that all K-12 students would be placed on remote learning for the next two weeks, he said.

“If things go well, we will restart in-person school on Monday, May 31,” said Beazley that day. “There are no new cases to report at this time.”

Beazley said that the school was currently working closely with Public Health, and assisting them with contact tracing, and communicating with families as to their children’s level of potential exposure. 

“Close contacts have been identified, and are advised to self-isolate along with their household members,” said Manitoba Public Health in a letter to parents and guardians. 

Then, late Thursday afternoon, another announcement was sent by Killarney School’s principal.

“We had two additional cases reported today,” said Beazley on Thursday. “The only time that either student was at school and considered contagious was Friday, May 14. The first case is of a Grade 8 student and is connected to previously reported cases in Grade 8. No additional close contacts at school were identified.”

Beazley said the other case is a Grade 12 student, and two new close contacts have been identified and notified by Public Health. 

“These newest cases bring us to a total of five active cases, four students and one staff member,” added Beazley. “As of now, we are still on remote learning until Friday, May 28.”   

Over at the Lakeside Christian School, a reduced number of children were still able to attend classes, following a single report of novel coronavirus COVID-19 infection.

“Five students are here today, from the younger classrooms,” said school principal Nancy Reimer on Wednesday morning. “We had one confirmed case of COVID-19 over the weekend. That student and a cohort, along with their families, are all currently self-isolating at home. The school is open still, for a few of our students. LCS is following all Public Health guidelines.”

The Lakeside Christian School is a K-12 school, and includes around 60 students. “My grades six to eight are so used to being online, and learning remote now,” said Reimer, who had just called after teaching a class remotely from the school. “Two of my teachers are teaching from home, and use Google-Meet, which is working really well. We have learned a lot of lessons from this pandemic, and some of them have been positive, especially when it comes to teaching.”

Public Health added that unless families had been contacted by the school, or the health authority, to say their child was a potentially close contact to those infected, it was unlikely that they would be at risk.

However, they are urging all parents to monitor their children for symptoms of COVID-19.

If symptoms do appear, Public Health is recommending that the child be tested as soon as possible, at a COVID-19 testing site during their open hours.

According to Manitoba Health’s website page, the nearest sites include two at Brandon: at the Keystone Centre’s Walk-in Testing Site, and at the Van Horne Location Drive-Thru Testing Site.

There are also two testing sites in Winkler, including a drive-thru site at 485 George Ave., and one at the Southland Mall (appointment required).

You can also call Health Links-Info Sante at 204-788-8200, or toll-free at 1-888-315-9257 for information on testing, to schedule appointments, or to find out more about COVID-19.

ALL QUIET AT KILLARNEY SCHOOL – Following five recently confirmed cases of COVID-19 (as of press time), Killarney School was directed by Public Health this week to teach students remotely for two weeks. If all goes well, in-person school could resume on Monday, May 31, said Terry Beazley, principal of the school. 

NO MORE HANGING WITH FRIENDS FOR NOW – Last week KCI students were out on the playground enjoying the weather with their classmates, but the school is now closed to in-person learning until at least May 31.

NEW RESTRICTIONS – As of this Saturday at 12 a.m., outdoor gatherings with people from outside your household are not permitted until at least after the May Long Weekend. The province announced the new restrictions, which can be viewed at Manitoba.ca, after over 600 cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Manitoba on Thursday.

RECESS AT THE LAKESIDE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL – Five students were still attending classes at the Lakeside Christian School on Wednesday, and enjoying recess in the playground. One child at the school tested positive for COVID-19 last weekend, so related family members and a cohort are currently isolating at home, and engaging in remote learning classes. 

JAY STRUTH/KILLARNEY GUIDE PHOTOS