Three more CCHS students test positive for COVID-19 Thursday

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

The Charles City Community School District received notification Thursday from Floyd County Public Health that three students at Charles City High School have tested positive for COVID-19. Two are in ninth grade and the third is in 11th grade.

According to a school district release, the two ninth-grade students last attended school on Monday, while the 11th-grader last attended school on Tuesday.

The three new cases on Thursday came after two students tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday this week, bringing the total of positive cases in the district to five since the start of the school year.

The district learned Tuesday morning that a student at Carrie Lane High School had tested positive for the virus, then later learned that a student in 11th grade at Charles City High School had also tested positive. The district said there is currently no evidence to indicate the individuals contacted COVID while at school.

Per the district’s established protocol, all areas of the buildings that the individuals used in the past several days have been temporarily closed off so the areas can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. The district stated that it was cooperating with the Department of Health and “will take the steps necessary to protect the health of our school family.”

Classes for Carrie Lane High School resumed Tuesday morning. At least one of the students was also on the CCHS football team. Football practice was canceled on Tuesday to allow Floyd County Public Health more time to trace contacts. The district announced Wednesday that it was pausing the football season for two weeks.

The district stated that if a student has been within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more, the district’s customer service team will call the student’s family with more details. The family should also expect a phone call from Floyd County Public Health.

The individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be allowed to return to school once they are 24 hours with no fever and symptoms are improving, and 10 days since symptoms started. If there are no symptoms, the students can return 10 days from the day of the test. The campus attendance office will monitor the return date.

The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to the regular seasonal influenza and include fever, coughing, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell. Some have reported additional symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, new runny nose/congestion, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.