On Sept. 5, 2020, San Juan Basin Public Health (SJBPH) learned that a student at Florida Mesa Elementary tested positive for COVID-19. The school and Durango School District 9-R are working proactively with SJBPH to make the appropriate notifications and provide next steps for those believed to have been in close contact with this individual.
While the student’s privacy is protected by law, those students and/or staff members who were in direct contact with the student have been contacted by SJBPH. The incident is isolated to a single cohort at the school at this time, and that cohort will move to a remote learning platform for a 14-day quarantine period. The school remains open for in-person and blended learning for the unaffected cohorts.
While the public health investigation is ongoing, no other 9-R schools or cohorts are affected beyond those that received individual notification from SJBPH and 9-R.
9-R is implementing its response plan that was created in the event of a positive test in a student. As per normal procedures, all areas have been disinfected since students and staff have occupied the area.
The 3 W’s of 9-R schools were created to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and it is critically important all students and staff follow the guidelines:
- Wear a Mask
- Wash Your Hands
- Watch Your Distance
It is also important that all families monitor the health of household members and make sure that anyone who is feeling ill stays home.
The school is commended for handling this situation according to all the guidelines of the 9-R Process Map for Symptomatic Cases. Following the guidelines in the Return to Learn 9-R plan, the student was immediately isolated and went home the same day. Rapid testing immediately occurred, and upon finding a positive in this case, the cohort will immediately go into quarantine and continue remote learning through the quarantine period.
As students return to schools and households start to have contact with each other in school settings, SJBPH and 9-R remind the community to socially distance and abide by the state order to wear a face mask. The whole community must remain vigilant and highly disciplined so that we can keep our schools and our economy safe and open as COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community.
For the most up to date information on how to take precautions against the spread of COVID-19, visit SJBPH’s website at: https://sjbpublichealth.org/coronavirus/