Manor High School staff member tests positive for COVID-19, says Manor ISD
MANOR, Texas - Manor ISD says a staff member at Manor High School has tested positive for COVID-19.
In a letter to the Manor ISD community, the district says the individual was diagnosed as a positive case on Tuesday, March 24. They had visited the Manor High School campus on Monday, March 23, unaware they had contracted the virus.
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MISD says the campus has been closed to the public since March 13 and only staff with special permission has been allowed on campus since then. MISD says that janitorial staff, unaware the person had contracted the virus, went into the building and disinfected the areas the person occupied.
"This staff member did not have physical contact with the janitorial staff or any other staff during the visit," the letter said.
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MISD says that the two janitors who cleaned the area will be self-monitoring at home for 14 days because according to state officials, the virus can live on surfaces for several days.
READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:
Manor ISD Community;
As we continue to move through these uncertain times, MISD administrators are doing everything we can to keep you updated on the spread of COVID-19. We have received communication from one of our MISD staff members that they have tested positive for the virus.
That individual, who works at Manor High School, was diagnosed as a positive case Tuesday, March 24th. The individual visited the Manor High School campus on Monday, March 23rd unaware that they had contracted the virus. The MHS campus has been closed to the public since Friday, March 13th and only MISD staff with special permission has been allowed on campus since then. Unaware that this individual had contracted the virus our janitorial staff as per MISD protocols, went into the empty building and disinfected the areas this person occupied. This staff member did not have physical contact with the janitorial staff or any other staff during the visit.
According to state officials, the virus can live on surfaces for several days and for that reason, the two janitors who cleaned the area will be self-monitoring at home for 14 days. Under CDC guidance for schools, MISD campuses and buildings will continue to be closed and will only be opened on a case-by-case basis for administrators. Any facility that is opened for staff will be thoroughly cleaned several days after an individual enters to ensure proper disinfecting of the campus.
We are awaiting further guidance from our health authorities on what future steps if any need to be taken. MISD will continue to monitor this incident and will bring you updates as they are available.
Last week, Gov. Greg Abbott issued a public health disaster, the first in Texas since 1901. The executive orders, which took effect at midnight Friday, March 20 and go through midnight on Friday, April 3, will bring the state in line with CDC guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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The public health disaster orders schools to be closed statewide until at least April 3. The disaster also orders a ban on dine-in eating and gathering in groups of more than 10 as the state ramps up efforts to battle the coronavirus. Abbott's order also will shut down gyms and bars. It also bans visits to nursing and retirement homes unless there is a critical need.
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