A DeKalb County School District employee has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said in a letter online late Monday afternoon.
The news comes as Gov. Brian Kemp bans gatherings of more than 10 people and issues a shelter-in-place order for medically fragile residents.
District officials were notified Monday by the DeKalb County Board of Health about the positive test. A letter to the school district community said there was no exposure to students. The employee did not work in a school building.
“The (DeKalb County Board of Health) explained that the biggest intervention that (the) DeKalb County School District could have done has already taken place — all schools are closed,” a district statement said. “Since the district closed all schools on March 16, teams have been cleaning and sanitizing each of our schools and centers. All employees are encouraged to continue adhering to health protocols provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Public Health to stop the spread of COVID-19.”
DeKalb and many other Georgia school districts closed their school buildings on March 13 after Kemp asked that they do so. Many schools will be closed through the middle of April as students get lessons online. Some districts across the country have cancelled classes altogether.
The district encouraged people to continue practicing social distancing, where people avoid mass gatherings and maintain about six feet from others when possible, as well as thoroughly washing hands and disinfecting frequently touched objects.
“The safety and well-being of our staff and students continues to be a top priority,” the district said. “The building in which the employee worked has been closed. The building is being deep cleaned and sanitized. As we continue to navigate these uncharted waters, we remain committed to providing accurate and timely information by updating our website as information is received.”
In the meantime, the district is continuing other services as buildings are closed for classes, including meal service. Monday began the first day of school bus meal deliveries.
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