Some families and kids at Caledonia Community Schools are being asked to self-isolate after a student began showing signs of COVID-19.
The school posted in statement online saying they first learned about the student Tuesday. Out of an abundance of caution the school says they began calling the parents of all potentially affected students.
Families are being asked to self-quarantine until being contacted by the Kent County Health Department.
The school says that student has tested positive for COVID-19 since leaving school. Three additional students who came in contact with this student last weekend also tested positive. They all have been self-quarantining since Tuesday afternoon.
In an effort to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 and as required by CDC guidelines, the school turned over all information and additional close contacts to the Kent County Health Department. If your student is considered a close contact, the Kent County Health Department will contact you.
Thursday after the cases were announced the school also deiced to not hold in person classes Friday after a recommendation from the Kent County Health Department.
13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke to parents and grandparents in Caledonia about the news of the COVID-19 positive school cases.
While they say they aren’t surprised, they are also not looking forward to sending their kids back into the classrooms.
“Honestly I wasn’t that surprised when I heard of it,” says a former Caledonia high school student. “Caledonia is a massive school and as much as you try to do social distancing there’s only so much you can do.”
"I know they need to be school but sending them back in person is probably not the best idea right now,” says the father of two young Caledonia students.
When asked if he will be sending his kids back to school, he said “Probably not. If they keep popping up more and more here, then I’m probably just going to keep them home. It doesn’t surprise me that it started happening, we didn’t find a cure or a vaccine. So put them on online learning full time until they figure out some kind of vaccine at least. They’ve got to figure out how to fix this first.”
13 ON YOUR SIDE reached out to Caledonia Community Schools for comment, but have not heard back from the district.
An official announcement for a class plan for next week is expected to come from the Caledonia Community Schools this weekend.
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