Two test positive at Humble ISD campus
After the second case, contact tracing identifies three people now under quarantine from Woodcreek Middle School
A second individual has tested positive for COVID-19 at Humble ISD’s Woodcreek Middle School, according to an email sent out by the school district on Monday. The individual was last at Woodcreek Middle School on Friday, according to the email.
Contact tracing was completed once the school was informed and staff was told about the case. Between the two cases, three individuals were identified as having close contact and will remain off campus until they meet Texas Education Association guidelines.
Humble ISD staffers will not have to use personal days to fulfill the quarantine, Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount said. Teachers will be allowed to work from home if they are designated as a close contact of a person who tested positive.
This case was preceded by another positive case of an individual who was last on the Woodcreek Middle School campus on Aug. 5 — although the cases are believed to be unrelated because the two did not interact or sit near each other while on campus.
As there are no students on campus for face-to-face instruction until Aug. 24, parents were not notified. The district’s procedures do require staff to report positive test results or symptoms of the coronavirus, which include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, a new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Areas that were heavily used by individuals with a positive test are temporarily closed off for deep cleaning and sanitizing. Individuals who test positive will remain off campus until at least 10 days have passed since their symptoms appeared, Mount said, and they have had at least 24 hours since recovery and symptoms have significantly improved.
Free testing is provided to employees who have symptoms or were in close contact with someone who tested positive.
“The district notifies those on campus and the health department of positive cases when they occur,” Mount said in a statement.
The two cases occurred before the first week of virtual learning, during which time staff have been on campus to prepare for the coming school year. Woodcreek Middle School remains open. The Harris County Health Department would determine if a campus needed to be closed based on coronavirus cases, Mount said.
“Teachers throughout the district are teaching virtual classes from home or from their classrooms,” Mount said in an emailed statement. “Humble ISD supports teachers in choosing what setting works best for them for online classes. Those teaching in the building are in their own classrooms. At Woodcreek Middle School, about half of the teachers are on campus and about half are teaching from home this week.”
“At Woodcreek Middle School, about half of the teachers are on campus and about half are teaching from home this week.”
Humble ISD spokesperson Jamie Mount