A Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools employee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to the school system.

In a message to parents on Tuesday night, Assistant Superintendent Patrick Abele revealed the system learned of the positive test earlier in the day. He said the staff member was involved with the ongoing Meals for Students initiative, but on the logistical side and was not involved with preparing or handing out food.

Abele cited transparency as a reason behind sharing the news with families and wrote about the many steps CHCCS staff has taken to protect its workers from the virus. He said essential staff had been wearing masks and gloves since before the news of the positive case, with available hand sanitizer, regular sanitation of buses and daily temperature checks for employees all being additional efforts.

Abele did say, though, the COVID-19 case will spur even more steps for employee safety.

“The news of a staff member testing positive for the virus has served as the impetus for us to ensure our essential staff are divided into multiple teams with only one team reporting to work at any given time,” he wrote in the message. “Along with social distancing measures and the use of protective equipment, we believe this will provide a better opportunity to keep the food initiative and critical operations rolling in case a staff member or volunteer gets sick.”

Abele also spoke about the importance of the Meals for Students initiative, which is serving meals to aid students who rely on federal meals during normal in-person school periods.

“It is important that we sustain the food distribution, as we know many of our students depend on these meals for daily nutrition,” said Abele. “To that end, we are strictly following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control. Social distancing is practiced at all phases of food preparation, delivery and distribution. We are taking all recommended precautions to keep everyone involved safe and healthy.”

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools have been teaching remotely since March 30, which began after an extended spring break as the school system assessed the ongoing spread of the novel coronavirus. The meals program began shortly after the announcement the schools would be moving to online learning indefinitely.

“As this dreaded virus begins to hit our community,” wrote Abele, “we ask everyone to hang in there, hold the line, and keep your loved ones healthy.”

Abele, who is serving as the acting superintendent while Superintendent Pam Baldwin is out on medical leave, said the school system has contacted the Orange County Health Department about its employee’s positive test result.

Photo via Town of Chapel Hill.

 

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