Families of Prospect High School girls volleyball players were notified Monday, October 26, 2020 that a person who had contact with the team tested positive recently for COVID-19. As a precaution, a 14-day quarantine for team members and staff was initiated.
Prospect High School Assistant Principal Frank Mirandola wrote families via email that contact tracing and notifications are underway in response to the positive test. Students and staff connected to the volleyball team are also being monitored for signs and symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19) illness.
Also, deep cleaning of areas of potential exposure are underway, according to the e-mail. High school officials with High School District 214 are following public health guidance and protocols established by the Cook County Department of Public Health.
Students and staff were advised to monitor their health and stay at home if they develop symptoms. Sick persons should contact their health care provider to determine if testing is needed.
Family members of students and staff members also need to be wary of symptoms and taking protective and preventive precautions.
The following CDC guidelines are provided for information only and may or may not be identical to the recommendations from the Cook County Department of Public Health.
CDC Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Quarantine Guidelines
WHO NEEDS TO QUARANTINE?
People who have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19—excluding people who have had COVID-19 within the past 3 months.
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 do not need to quarantine or get tested again for up to 3 months as long as they do not develop symptoms again. People who develop symptoms again within 3 months of their first bout of COVID-19 may need to be tested again if there is no other cause identified for their symptoms.
What counts as close contact?
You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more
You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
You had direct physical contact with the person (hugged or kissed them)
You shared eating or drinking utensils
They sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
STEPS TO TAKE
Stay home and monitor your health
Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19
Watch for fever (100.4°F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19If possible, stay away from others, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19
There’s a difference between quarantine and isolation.
Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus away from others.
Isolation keeps someone who is infected with the virus away from others, even in their home or hospital room with personal protection and indoor environmental specifications. There are different types of isolation specifications.
See more from CDC …
Prospect High School did not send out a school-wide alert to all families regarding the positive test result connected to the volleyball team. However, earlier in October 2020, Prospect High School Principal Greg Minter sent an e-mail alerting all parents and families regarding rumors on a Facebook group that were allegedly spreading misinformation that a significant number of teachers were not working in the building — apparently raising suspicion of COVID-19 issues. Minter replied to correct the rumors, stating that there were “only 8 teachers/counselors/social workers out of 131 that have been approved to work remotely due to a medical condition.” Minter added, “At the moment, we also have 4 staff members that are working remotely due to a COVID-19 exposure.” The four teachers were exposed from different sources at different times, resulting in different quarantine schedules.
Rumors and misinformation have also spread out from the information related to the positive test involving the volleyball team, which has caused continued confusion and doubt among some people connected to Prospect High School and even other high schools in the school district.
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