Another five members of the Sa-Hali Secondary School community have tested positive for COVID-19 in the fifth exposure event reported at the school over a two week period.

In a letter to parents sent this evening, Principal Rachael Sdoutz says this latest exposure happened on all five school days of last week, Jan. 25 to 29.

In all, there have now been COVID exposures at Sa-Hali Secondary on eight of ten school days over the past two weeks – Jan. 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, and 29.

Sdoutz says all of the affected people are self-isolating at home with support from public health teams.

“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,” she said.

As has been the policy, school officials say if parents haven’t been contacted by public health teams, their kids are not at risk of developing COVID-19.

If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, you’re also asked to contact 811.

School District 73 Superintendent Terry Sullivan previously told NL News that schools continue to be safe places for staff and students to be in, noting the increase in exposure events tend to reflect what is happening in the community.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. I think the evidence clearly shows that. These increases aren’t a result of students being in school and I think that’s another indication I think that the directions that the province has given, and certainly that health has given is the correct way to go,” he said, on NL Newsday.

It’s unclear how many people in total connected to the Sa-Hali secondary school community have tested positive for COVID-19 at this time. NL News has reached out to School District 73 for more information.

There have now been COVID-19 exposures reported at 15 schools across School District 73 this school year – and thirteen schools have seen exposures this semester.