Coronavirus: Huber Heights Schools confirms 3rd case among staff

Huber Heights City Schools confirmed that a third staff member tested positive for coronavirus and is in quarantine.

The staff member has not been in contact with students but was in contact with other staff, according to the district. Employees who were in contact with that staff member have been notified.

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The staff member is the second Central Office employee to test positive for the virus.

“We of course are saddened by the fact that we have this situation, but we feel confident that steps we have taken and the protocol we are enforcing will provide the safest possible environment moving forward,” read a statement from Mario Basora, superintendent.

According to the district’s policy, any students and staff who have been within 6 feet of a confirmed coronavirus case for 15 consecutive minutes or more over the last 10 days must quarantine for 14 calendar days before returning to school.

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Students seated in classes immediately around the infected student or staff member as well those on the school bus or in the cafeteria and/or sports/club connections would be included in the quarantine. It would not include the hallway or other exposure in the school due to the time consistently being with 6 feet of someone with the virus being less than 15 minutes.

For more information on the district’s plans to return to school, click here.

Those who had contact with the staff member will either stay home until Aug. 3 and be asymptomatic or they have to provide a negative coronavirus test.

“It is our personal responsibility as a community to be doing everything we can to lessen the spread of this pandemic,” Basora said. “We are hopeful for a safe return to the school year, but are concerned about the spread of this virus. This is serious. It has hit Huber Heights and is spreading.

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“If we want to keep school open this school year, then we must take it upon ourselves to immediately practice social distancing and wear masks anytime we are in public. Schools enforcing these protocols will not be enough. We need everyone in our community to do what they can by wearing masks, social distancing and maintaining proper hygiene to reduce the spread. If we fail to stop the spread, we will likely return to online learning for all.”

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