In a letter circulated by the Riverside Beaver County School District on Monday, October 12, 2020, the district was notified that a staff member at Riverside Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19.
“It is important for students and staff to self-screen for COVID-19 symptoms every day,” said Superintendent, Bret Trotta in an email on Wednesday. “If you are symptomatic or have been in close contact with a positive case, we ask that they stay home and contact our school nurse. We sincerely appreciate the support of our school community as we continue to work to provide a safe educational environment for our students and staff.”
Per the district Healthy and Safety Plan, the district notified the PA Department of Health (DOH) and they provided the district with guidance and protocols to implement. With the current situation, only “close contacts” are required to be quarantined.
The PA Department of Health defines a “close contact” as any individual who was within six feet of a positive case of COVID-19 for a duration of longer than fifteen consecutive minutes without the use of a face covering.
The district will continue to implement all other safety precautions and stress frequent hand washing, social distancing, and the use of face coverings in all buildings and during all events.
According to the letter and to further mitigate exposure, all impacted areas were thoroughly sanitized and disinfected.
Along with the sanitation of all affected areas, the district and the DOH jointly completed a risk assessment. The final results of this collaborative effort determined that there is no continued risk or known exposures that would require the closing of Riverside Elementary or any classrooms at Riverside Elementary. Therefore, all students and staff members will return to school on a normal schedule.
The letter asks to note that while the district has an obligation to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all members of the community, we also have an obligation to protect the privacy of individuals affected by this virus. The Department of Health or the school nurse will notify any individual identified as a “close contact”. If contact from either party does not occur, the district can reasonably assure that you have not been identified as a “close contact” of a positive case and may return to school and participate in all extracurricular activities.
The letter offered a final reminder that the district’s current disinfecting/cleaning schedules and safety precautions have positively impacted the district. The district will continue to require the use of face coverings and socially distance students when possible. Additionally, the district encourages all parents to utilize the Health and Wellness Checklist for all Riverside students and keep your child home from school if he/she is feeling sick for any reason.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are cough, fever, loss of taste, and shortness of breath. Muscle aches, sore throat, and fatigue are also common. If a child exhibits any of these symptoms, please consult with your family medical provider for further medical guidance.
“We will continue to closely monitor all situations related to COVID-19 and provide a safe environment for all individuals in the district,” concluded Trotta. ” We will continue to keep you informed as we receive additional information and we encourage anyone who has an immediate question or concern to contact the district.”
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