By John Estridge (Updated)
Parents of students in the Union County College Corner Joint School District received a message Friday, August 14, and one Sunday, from the school corporation.
The first one informed parents a student at College Corner Elementary School had tested positive after leaving school and Sunday’s said one teacher within the system has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the message, the Union County Health Department has deemed it safe to keep schools in the corporation open in both instances.
In the first message the audio message stated: “Friday, after students left the building our school nurse and the Union County Health Department were informed about a positive case at College Corner Elementary School. The Union County Health Department has determined that it is safe for all schools to remain open. Upon learning the information, we put our COVID-19 protocols into place. We gathered seating charts and met with the Health Department to determine all close contacts. All close contacts have been communicated by our school nurse. The building and specific classroom will be receiving targeted deep cleaning and sanitizing to ensure safety. The affected individuals will participate in remote learning through Google Classrooms and the UCCCJSD re-entry plan. We encourage each parent to use the parents’ students’ checklist to monitor for signs of potential illness. Students should remain at home if they show any symptoms of COVID-19.”
The message on Sunday states: “Our schools were informed Sunday evening about an individual staff member who experience(d) symptoms over the weekend went to get tested and learned about the positive results as with every (COVID) 19 situation. We communicated with the Union County Health Department. The Union County Health Department has determined that it is safe for all schools to remain open. Upon learning the information, we put our (COVID) 19 protocols into place any close contacts have been communicated with by the local health department. As a reminder by definition a close contact with anyone who is within six feet for at least 15 minutes specifically exposed and targeted areas will be deep cleaned and sanitized before school’s resume on Monday.”
Union County’s total of positive COVID-19 tests increased over the weekend by 12 percent, going from 42 to 47.