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Variant of concern linked to COVID-19 outbreak at three Surrey schools

Cases appear to be linked to community transmissions, but schools will remain open
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Five-year-old Nancy Murphy wears a full mask and face shield as she waits in line for her kindergarten class to enter school during the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Fraser Health authority says people at three schools in the region have tested positive for a COVID-19 variant of concern.

A news release says it is working with the Surrey school district to manage COVID-19 exposures at Queen Elizabeth Secondary School, Frank Hurt Secondary School and M.B. Sanford Elementary School.

It says the cases involving an unspecified COVID-19 variant appear to be linked to community transmissions, but the schools will remain open.

The health authority also declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Royal Columbian Hospital on Friday.

It says five patients at the hospital tested positive for COVID-19 after evidence of transmission in a medicine unit.

It says the emergency department remains open and no other areas have been impacted.

Meanwhile, an outbreak at the CareLife Fleetwood long-term care home in Surrey was declared over.