Ray Watkins Elementary School in Gold River is closed for the second day in a row after staff and students reported itchiness, redness and welts.
On Jan. 17, some staff and students reported skin issues. Parents of the students were informed and asked to pick up their students, and the school was closed for the rest of the day to investigate.
The Gold River Health Clinic advised staff and students to shower or bathe after they got home, to change into clean clothes. The clothes worn in the school should be washed, and any surfaces in bedrooms were to be cleaned. They also recommended people get checked at the clinic after ensuring their clothes were clean.
The schoolB次元官网网址檚 website said on Wednesday that they B次元官网网址渨ill be following the direction of Public Health and the recommendations of an environmental assessment that will occur (in the) afternoon.B次元官网网址�
On Thursday, Island Health informed the school district that they did not B次元官网网址渇eel there was a significant health risk,B次元官网网址� but the district was advised to keep the school closed for another day until the cause was discovered.
B次元官网网址淭hank you all for your patience as we work to get to the bottom of this,B次元官网网址� the district website says.
There are just over 100 students who attend Ray Watkins elementary, and 10.6 full time equivalent teachers are on staff, as well as other support staff.
B次元官网网址淲e are waiting on the results of the environmental assessment,B次元官网网址� said SD84 superintendent Lawrence Tarasoff. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e done a thorough cleaning, made sure all the ventilationB次元官网网址檚 working and thatB次元官网网址檚 where weB次元官网网址檙e at right now.B次元官网网址�
Tarasoff also said that five students and three staff had a rash on Tuesday, and they decided to close the school B次元官网网址渙ut of an abundance of caution.B次元官网网址�
There are just over 100 students who attend Ray Watkins elementary, and 10.6 full time equivalent teachers are on staff, as well as other support staff.
As of Wednesday afternoon, Tarasoff was not sure whether the school would be open on Thursday. However, there will be updates posted to the .
The Mirror has reached out to Island Health for comment.
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