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An entire class is isolating after a COVID-19 exposure event at Sir James Douglas Elementary school in Victoria.

The exposure occurred on Nov. 23.

Sir James Douglas Elementary experienced a COVID-19 exposure on Monday, Nov. 23rd. A class has been asked to self-isolate. Island Health is conducting contact tracing. If a person may have been exposed, Island Health will contact them directly. More info: https://t.co/cNo9g3ZPFm pic.twitter.com/nulnSHfPrG
— Greater Victoria SD (@sd61schools) November 27, 2020

Island Health says notification of an exposure is posted when a single person with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection attends a school during their infectious period.

It is the third school in the capital region to have an exposure event in the past two weeks. Lakeview Christian School in Saanich had an exposure on Nov. 16, and the Victoria School for Ideal Education had one on Nov. 16 and 17.

Other recent exposure events on the Island include Frank J. Ney Elementary in Nanaimo on Nov. 12, Ladysmith Secondary School on Nov. 9, 10, 12, 13 and Alberni District Secondary School on Nov. 12 and 13.

Island Health reported a cluster at Randerson Ridge Elementary school in Nanaimo on Nov. 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12. The health authority defines a cluster as two or more individuals with lab-confirmed COVID-19 infection who attended school during their infectious period. The cases may be linked to school-based transmission.

Kwalicum Secondary School in Qualicum Beach has also had a COVID-19 exposure. According to the health authority, the infected person was at the school on Nov. 18 and 19.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has put in place several orders and restrictions to bring down COVID-19 transmissions. The idea is to stop social gatherings and slow transmissions in this second wave to allow school and essential businesses to remain open.

The proportion of cases in school-aged children remains low and transmission of the virus in schools is very rare, according to school officials.

A list of school exposures can be found on the Island Health website at https://www.islandhealth.ca/learn-about-health/covid-19/exposures-schools