Interior Health is reporting a potential COVID-19 exposure at Barriere Secondary School – the first exposure event of the winter term in School District 73.

The health authority says the potential exposure would have been on Jan. 4, 5, and 8 during what was the first week back after the winter break.

“[This person is] self-isolating at home with support from local public health teams,” Barriere Secondary principal Angela Stott said in a letter to parents. “We are supporting Interior Health Authority as they undertake contact tracing to determine if any other members of our school community were in contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19, and if any additional steps are required.”

It is currently the only exposure listed within School District 73, but its unclear who in the Barriere school community would have tested positive for COVID-19.

“The safety and well-being of our students, families and staff remains our highest priority,” Stott added, while asking people to monitor their children for any symptoms. “Please be reassured that our school will continue to implement the strict protocols and procedures we have in place so that children can continue to attend school as safely as possible.

“Students should continue to come to school while contact tracing is underway.”

Over the course of last week, there were three exposure events at three high schools in Kelowna – at Kelowna Secondary on Jan. 4, 5, and 7, at Rutland Secondary on Jan. 4, and at Mount Boucherie Secondary on Jan. 5, 7, and 8 as well as at Hillview Elementary and W.L. Seaton Secondary School in Vernon on Jan. 4 and 5.

There were also potential exposure events in the Cariboo-Chilcotin School District 27 at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School in 100 Mile House on Jan. 4 and 5 and in Williams Lake at Skyline Alternate School and Marie Sharpe Elementary, both on Jan. 5.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent of the Nicola-Similkameen School District, Stephen McNiven, says a member of the Merritt Secondary School community tested positive for COVID-19 and is currently self-isolating.