**UPDATE: Monday, March 29, 2021: A third person affiliated with Hythe Regional School has tested positive for COVID-19. This person was last in the school on Tuesday, March 23, 2021. This case is in addition to the two cases announced on Sunday, March 28, and is part of the group of isolating close contacts. Our thoughts are with this person and their family, and we wish them a safe and speedy recovery.
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Sunday, March 28, 2021, Grande Prairie, AB – Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) has been advised of two additional cases of COVID-19 at Hythe Regional School (HRS), resulting in a decision to move Junior High to remote learning for the week of March 29 due to the number of staff identified as close contacts. No additional students are required to isolate, but school administration will be contacting the families of isolating students on Monday, March 29 to inform them that their isolation end date has now been extended by two days.
Information about previous two cases was released on March 23 and March 25. The two additional cases last attended the school on Wednesday, March 24. Out of respect for the individuals, and in accordance with AHS guidelines, no further information will be shared about the cases. PWPSD and HRS wish the individuals a safe and speedy recovery, and will continue to work closely with AHS to ensure necessary measures are in place to protect all students and staff.
Junior High on remote learning for week of March 29, school remains open for Junior Kindergarten - Grade 6 in-person learning
School administration is providing the following information to the impacted families and staff:
- The plans set in place to create zones and cohorts at HRS have worked as planned, and helped in the successful completion of contact tracing with AHS.
- Students identified as close contacts are already isolating due to the previous two cases, but their isolation end dates will now be extended by two days. School administration will contact the individual families on Monday, March 29 to communicate the new end-of-isolation dates.
- Due to the number of staff identified as close contacts, PWPSD has authorized a short-term Junior High operational shift to remote learning for Grades 7, 8 and 9 students and related teaching staff during Monday, March 29 - Thursday, April 1. Since Friday, April 2 is the Good Friday holiday, followed by the week of Easter Break, all isolating close contacts will return to school on Monday, April 12.
- AHS is expected to provide all close contacts with further direction on testing and isolation instructions.
- Junior Kindergarten - Grade 6 students and staff have not been identified as close contacts and can return to school on Monday, March 29.
- The school has been disinfected.
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