Castlegar schools not hard hit by H1N1
By Kyra Hoggan
School District 20 superintendent Jean Borsa said today that Castlegar schools have not been as hard-hit as some others in the region by the H1N1 virus (swine flu).
“It’s sort of going away now,” she said, explaining Castlegar Primary School say an absenteeism rate of about 20 per cent last week, but that number is down this week to around 10 per cent.
“Kinnaird, Robson and Twin Rivers (elementary schools) are all below 10 per cent,” she added, “and Stanely Humphries (secondary school) is at just over 10 per cent.”
She said 10 per cent is the threshold at which school districts begin reporting absentee rates to the Interior Health Authority – and it’s not an alarming number.
“It’s not any different than any other season when we have some flu going around … at this point, anyway. Hopefully, it stays that way,” she said. “There are always schools during flu season that report 10 per cent or more, so it’s not unusual.”
Borsa said Castlegar schools have been implementing contagion-reduction measures since the end of last year, includign teaching kis about hand-washing and proper ways to cough and sneeze, as well as increased custodial attention to oft-touched surfaces like door knobs.
The district has also posted a comprehensive H1N1 information section on their website at www.sd20.bc.ca
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