by Larry Chowning –
The Middlesex County Public Schools community received word on Thursday, May 6, that an individual last in a school building on Monday, May 3, had tested positive for COVID-19.
The notification came in an email from School Superintendent Peter Gretz and stated that through contact tracing, and in communication with the Virginia Department of Health, 15 other individuals in Middlesex schools had been identified as having been in close contact, and accordingly in quarantine. The email did not specify which school, nor say if those affected were students or staff or a mixture of both.
“It is important to know that the individual who tested positive did not contract COVID-19 at school,” said Dr. Gretz. “In each of the above-mentioned cases, all of those currently quarantined were at least three feet from the infected individual.
“In the classroom setting, desks have remained at least three feet apart,” he said. “All of the individuals in question are safe from contracting COVID-19, having met the standard requirements by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).”
The 15 individuals were, however, less than six feet from the individual for more than 15 minutes cumulatively over the 24-hour period, and thus must be quarantined by the VDH contact tracing standard, said Dr. Gretz.
“We ask that you continue to encourage good habits within your families, continue to monitor your health, and take note of any symptoms of COVID-19,” he said.
