Clear Creek ISD kindergartner tests COVID-19 positive on first day of class
LEAGUE CITY, Texas (KTRK) -- Clear Creek ISD announced Tuesday that it has two active COVID-19 cases in the district, changing their response protocol to the "Mitigate" phase.
A kindergartner at Ross Elementary in League City has tested positive for COVID-19 after the first day of in-person learning.
A letter from principal Kelly Mooney was sent home to parents, explaining that the student was on campus Monday, Aug. 31, for a short time before being sent home immediately in accordance with Clear Creek ISD health protocols.
"The area/classroom has been properly cleaned. Through effective prevention measures such as face coverings and social distancing, no other students or employees were in close contact of the individual therefore there is no need for concern. Close contact is defined by health authorities as a person who has come within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 and was in close contact for more than 15 minutes cumulatively in the two days prior to exhibiting symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19," the letter said in part.
It's unclear what kind of symptoms the student was showing before being sent home.
On Aug. 27, the district notified all employees that a staff member at Greene Elementary School had tested positive for the virus. The staff member reported to work, but later returned home and alerted the school. The campus was closed to visitors at the time, and no in-person classes for students had begun. The staff member has since been self-isolating at home.
The district noted that the new cases bring the total to two confirmed cases out of 42,170 students and 5,200 employees.
The CCISD website shows that the district's COVID-19 level is operating at a Stage 4, which means there is one or more confirmed cases of the virus at one facility.
Stage 4 also means:
- People who came within close contact of an individual with a confirmed case of COVID-19 will be personally contacted by health experts and advised to self-quarantine for 14 days
- The affected area is closed for deep cleaning
- Self-health monitoring, prevention information and stay home if ill communication to all people at the school or facility
- Short-term closure of facility may be necessary for three days
A chart on CCISD's website breaks down the number of active cases by campus. Similar charts can be found on each campus website as well.
When a student tests positive for COVID-19, the case must be reported to the Texas Department of State Health Services so it can be tracked.
The Texas Education Agency says the information will be posted publicly. The agency is asking schools to start reporting weekly the number of cases on campus.
READ MORE: Teachers to give COVID-19 case report separate from Texas count
That is not the only system created to track cases in schools. The Texas American Federation of Teachers will be creating their own data system as well.
"I believe that they are going to have that system available. We're going online with a crowd sourced COVID tracker ... every school in the state of Texas," said Zeph Capo, Houston Federation of Teachers President.
According to the CDC, symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chill, cough, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing.
Full letter from Ross Elementary on kindergartner who tested positive for COVID-19
Dear Ross Elementary Staff and Families: The Clear Creek Independent School District is committed to providing students and staff a healthy learning and working environment. The community spread of COVID-19 is all around us, and in CCISD we are doing our part to slow the spread through preventative measures such as deep cleaning of facilities and equipment, requiring social distancing and mask coverings, and providing time for students and staff to practice good hand hygiene throughout the day. Even with these measures in place, we have received a report of a kindergarten student at Ross Elementary who has tested positive for COVID-19. This student was on campus August 31, 2020 for a short time before being sent home. The area/classroom has been properly cleaned. Through effective prevention measures such as face coverings and social distancing, no other students or employees were in close contact of the individual therefore there is no need for concern. Close contact is defined by health authorities as a person who has come within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 and was in close contact for more than 15 minutes cumulatively in the two days prior to exhibiting symptoms or testing positive for COVID-19. However, it is always important to communicate self-health monitoring information to families and employees. Please visit www.cdc.gov to find the symptoms of COVID-19. If one or more of these symptoms develop, please immediately contact your family physician and remain home until you are symptom free.I am proud of the efforts of our staff, students and families to keep Ross Elementary healthy. Please continue to do your part and conduct the CCISD Self-Health Assessment daily prior to sending children to school.
Thank you,
Kelly Mooney, principal
Ross Elementary
