March 12, 2020
Dear MEI Families,
Cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been identified throughout the world leading to the World Health Organization declaring the outbreak to be a pandemic. In our home province, 7 new cases were announced yesterday bringing the total to 46 according to the Provincial Health Officer.
I want you to know that we are taking this situation very seriously at MEI Schools. Our Senior Lead Team held a special meeting this week to review our contingency planning in the event that the outbreak clusters in the Abbotsford and/or surrounding areas. We are monitoring the situation closely, consulting regularly with colleagues, and continuing to make decisions based on the advisement of the B.C. Ministry of Education and the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Travel
MEI has cancelled a number of international trips and is giving careful consideration to those scheduled to depart later this spring. We are asking that families and staff who are travelling internationally during spring break consider the possibility of a needed quarantine upon their return to Canada. Please refer to the Government of Canada travel advisories and the most recent bulletins from the health authorities
(https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories). Please note that those who travel to any location with a Level 2 or 3 travel advisory, currently Italy, China, Iran, South Korea, and Japan, or participates in a cruise, may be asked to self-quarantine prior to returning to classes at MEI. Cruise ships continue to be high-risk environments for transmission. The federal government has recommended that Canadians avoid all cruise ship travel due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
The March 10th update from the B.C. Ministry of Health included the following:
"British Columbians should monitor their health while they are travelling and after they return. If you have any symptoms at all of a cold or influenza, even if they're mild, stay away from others. If you have been to areas, particularly where we know there has been transmission of COVID-19, then call your health care provider, 8-1-1, or public health. Always tell health care providers about recent travel if you become ill after returning to Canada."
The safety of our students and staff is of the highest priority. There are likely to be significant changes to the global and local situations over the two-week break and we will respond accordingly. Let's all be careful to operate on facts and not rumours as we move through the spring months. Working together with trust, and with God's help, we'll get through this!
Thank you for your support and understanding. May God bless and protect you and yours over the coming holiday.
Vijay Manuel
Head of MEI Schools
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