Delta students will come back from the long weekend to a further easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
In an update to parents, Delta School District Superintendent Doug Sheppard said the Provincial COVID-19 Communicable Disease Guidelines for K-12 Settings have been updated to reflect changes to the provincial health officer orders and further incorporate public health guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).
The amendments took effect April 16.
Among the key changes is a relaxation of restrictions for school gatherings and events.
Schools can resume all gathering and events, returning to 100 per cent capacity.
That means schools can host school and sports events, plan year-end celebrations and prepare for more typical graduation ceremonies.
Although Daily Health Checks are no longer officially required for anyone entering schools or district buildings, Sheppard said the district strongly encourages individuals to continue the practice, while staff, parents, caregivers and students should not come to school if they are sick and unable to participate fully in routine activities.
Schools can also use classroom and learning environment configurations and activities that best meet learner needs and preferred educational approaches.
“It is encouraging to see public health transition to managing COVID-19 as they do other serious respiratory infections in the community as it allows a return to a more normal life and activities,” wrote Sheppard. “However, like many of you, we will be paying close attention to changes in community and school illness and COVID-19 rates, and will continue to work with our partners at Fraser Health to shift as necessary as this pandemic continues to change.”
New data on COVID-19 in City of Delta
Meanwhile, the number of new confirmed COVID-19 cases in the City of Delta inched up slightly from the previous week, according the BCCDC.
BCCDC’s latest community map, posted April 14, covers the period of April 3 to 9. The map shows Delta had 27 new cases.
As far as Delta’s vaccination rate, as of April 10, those in the 5-to-11 age range, who have had a first dose, was 65 per cent, while it was 46 per cent for a second dose.
Those 12-to-17 who have had a first dose was 97 per cent, while it was 95 per cent for a second and 41 per cent for a booster shot.
When it comes to those ages 18-years-old and older in Delta who had a first dose, it stood at 97 per cent, while it was 95 per cent for a second and 63 per cent for a third. Those numbers are unchanged from the previous week.
