A child and staff member at separate schools in Indiana tested positive for COVID-19 as institutions in the state reopened for the new school year.
Greenfield-Central Junior High School in Greenfield, Ind., a city east of Indianapolis, launched its coronavirus response strategy after county officials notified the staff on the first day of school Thursday that a student had contracted the novel coronavirus, the Indy Star reports.
Avon High School in Avon, Ind., a city west of Indianapolis, was also notified the same day that a staff member tested positive for the fast-spreading virus, according to CBS News.
The student at Greenfield-Central took a coronavirus test days prior and attended school before the results were returned. Avon was notified about its staff member’s results on the second day of school, although the employee was not physically present in the school building and did not come into close contact with anyone connected to the school, the CBS report said.
Greenfield-Central put its “Positive COVID-19 Test Protocol” into gear, isolating the child, who remains unidentified, along with students who came into contact with the infected person during the day.
Anyone who came in contact with the student will quarantine for 14 days, according to the New York Times.
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Greenfield-Central Community Schools superintendent Harold E. Olin anticipated such an incident would occur at one of the schools, but not so quickly.
“We knew it was a when, not if,” Olin stated, but was “very shocked it was on Day 1.”
Greenfield-Central Community Schools in Indiana is among the first school district to open its doors for in-person instruction since the coronavirus pandemic caused institutions nationwide to close buildings back in March.
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According to the New York Times, school districts in several other states, California included, have opted to offer virtually learning for the forthcoming semester, despite initial plans to reopen classrooms to students.
Despite the positive COVID-19 case on day one, there are no plans for Greenfield-Central Junior High School or any Greenfield-Central Community Schools to close down.
The Indy Star indicates that there are no reports of whether any other kids or staff have been infected by the child who tested positive on Thursday.
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