Updated
A fourth-grade student at Pennington Elementary School in Manassas has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Prince William County Public Schools officials.
The child tested positive for the virus after running a low-grade fever. The child showed no other symptoms, according to school officials.
A sibling of the 4th-grade student attends kindergarten at nearby Bennett Elementary School. That child is self-isolating and is not showing symptoms of the disease at this point, school officials said.
The father of both children is being treated for coronavirus. A portion of a letter from the school division states:
“…the parent self-quarantined on March 8, and did not have further contact with his children enrolled at Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) after that time. While the students of the family were last in our schools on March 11…
This information was not provided to us by the Prince William Health District or the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), but was first brought to our attention through media reports and by the family impacted. After being contacted by [Prince William County Public Schools], the Prince William Health District (state health department office) advised the Division that the risk to others is low and for that reason, they did not plan to make contact with families whose children were in close proximity to the affected family members.
Nevertheless, [Prince William County Public Schools] wants to provide the school community with all information known to the Division which might enable parents to best protect their children during this unpredictable time.”
The names of the students are not being released for privacy concerns, school officials said.
Meanwhile, a teaching assistant at Benton Middle School near Dale City has shown symptoms of coronavirus, and so has her husband after he returned form a trip to Spain and Portugal.
Students, faculty, and staff at the middle school located near the intersection of Route 234 and Hoadly Road in Prince William County may have been exposed to the virus between March 9 through 13
Benton Middle School principal Joe Graczyk sent a statement to parents which read, in part:
This information was not provided to us by the Prince William Health District or the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), but was first brought to our attention by the staff member.
According to the impacted staff member, the doctors? won’t refer for testing because they are in short supply and the CDC has advised that patients should only be tested if the results? would affect the course of treatment. Their doctor also advised them to inform everyone they may have been in contact with out of an abundance of caution. ??
We recommend that you watch for your symptoms of COVID-19 in your children and contact your health provider if you have concerns.
School division Superintendent Dr. Steven L. Walts posted an announcement:
Please see this link for the latest message regarding the coronavirus…https://t.co/8su0yCkbdx pic.twitter.com/kpJPu5eaNt
— Steve Walts (@SuperPWCS) March 22, 2020
The news in Prince William County comes as Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is expected to make an education-related announcement press conference tomorrow, Monday, March 23, 2020.
Governor Northam to make an announcement on Virginia K-12 education tomorrow, per his news conference today.
— Diana Gulotta (@DianaGulotta) March 22, 2020
The administration has not yet announced a time for the press conference. A similar press conference held today began at 11 a.m.
There are 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Prince William County as of today.
In Stafford County, an employee at North Stafford High School is one of five confirmed cases in Stafford County, the Free-Lance Star reports.
In stark contrast with Prince Willam County, the Stafford County Public School Office of Strategic Communication and Community Engagement has not released an official statement on this matter on its website or on its social media pages.
Office director Sherrie Johnson this morning emailed Potomac Local News and said her office sent a notification about the matter to parents, school staff, and local media on Friday, March 19. Potomac Local News did not receive the statement.
Statewide in Virginia, there are 219 confirmed cases coronavirus and there have been three deaths attributed to the disease.
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