Richmond schools has first case
The childcare program in Richmond Community Schools, which welcomes students before, during and after school, has been shut down until Oct. 12.
The closure came about after The Macomb County Health Department identified a confirmed coronavirus case in a staff member at Will L. Lee Elementary School.
Superintendent Brian Walmsley sent a letter out to all parents in the district on Sept. 25 announcing the closure. It read in part:
“The MCHD and Richmond Community Schools are working closely to identify persons who may have been exposed. If your child is identified as a close contact, you will receive a telephone call from administration and a separate communication from a health department staff member.”
“It’s our first case and only case and hopefully things will keep going as they are, knock on wood,” Walmsley said in a phone interview on Sept. 29.
He stated 45 students and four-staff members in the Childcare Program were sent home to quarantine. The students included students in grades K through 5 who were in the before, during and after school programat Will L. Lee Elementary School.
The original positive case did not originate at the elementary school, Walmsley said the staff member was exposed outside the school. Once they reported to the district that they had been exposed he then reported the instance to the Macomb County Health Department.
Scott Turske, communications specialist with the Macomb County Health Department, said they conduct the case investigation and assist with the contact tracing but the school district handles the announcement to the public.
“We work in collaboration with the schools and are always here to answer any questions,” Turske said.
Once an exposure or positive case is confirmed Walmsley said the next step is tracking back to see who the person was in contact with while at the school. They go back two days to see who the person spent time with and was in close proximity to them for more than 15 minutes.
The Childcare Program has 60 students in grades K-5 who registered to attend and between 40 and 45 utilize the program each day. The students who have been sent home to quarantine are utilizing the district’s virtual learning option for the next two weeks, Walmsley said.
The other staff members involved have been tested and Walmsley said those results were negative and so far, the quarantined students are asymptomatic.
The announcement sent out to district parents stated the virus that causes COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. Spread is more likely when people are in close contact with one another (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes). Illness begins 2 to 14 days after a person is exposed. The symptoms of COVID-19 can include: fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, runny or stuffy nose, loss of taste or smell, and abdominal pain.
Walmsley also reminded parents/guardians that it’s ‘extremely important that they monitor their children closely and complete at-home screening each day, including a temperature check, prior to sending their child to school.