Scary news tonight for parents of children who attend Ashburn’s Waxpool Elementary school. A call from school spokesman Wayde Byard Thursday night announced that a staff member at the school off Belmont Ridge Road had tested positive for the coronavirus.
This new patient — if a Loudoun County resident — would be the sixth infected with the coronavirus identified in Loudoun County. Health officials have confirmed five local cases so far.
Here is the statement Superintendent Eric Williams sent to parents this evening:
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Dear LCPS Families and Staff:
The purpose of this letter is to notify you that the Loudoun County Health Department (LCHD) has confirmed today, late this afternoon, March 19, that a member of the Waxpool Elementary School staff tested positive for the coronavirus, or COVID-19. The staff member is recovering at home and we wish them a quick and complete recovery.
The LCHD is conducting a contact mapping investigation and is in the process of calling each individual identified as having had contact with the staff member who tested positive for COVID-19. The LCHD plans to provide additional information on this topic to the school community as the investigation progresses. Although we recognize that it is difficult to receive this notification without the forthcoming update from the LCHD, we wanted you to have this information as soon as possible.
As we work through this rapidly evolving situation, the Superintendent has issued the following directives specific to Waxpool Elementary School in order to promote the health and well-being of our students, staff and community:
- Effective immediately, the school building is closed to all students, employees, contractors, and the public until further notice.
- Food distribution at Waxpool Elementary School is suspended indefinitely. Starting Monday, March 23 and until further notice, LCPS will make arrangements to deliver free meals to all Waxpool Elementary School students who are eligible for free- and reduced-price meals.
- If any students from Waxpool are identified as eligible to receive hotspots (as described in the Superintendent’s message to the community on March 17), we will communicate with the families of these students regarding hotspots.
- Waxpool Elementary School will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected and will remain closed until further notice.
The LCHD advises that anyone who is ill should self-quarantine and contact their physician or the Health Department at 703-737-8300 from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. The Health Department is not able to provide any additional information about the ill individual or their contacts. You may wish to review some of the resources that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control has made available for communities that have experienced a confirmed COVID-19 case. These can help you monitor your own family’s health and address some of the concerns that this news may raise.
The health and well-being of every student, staff member, their families and the community remains LCPS’ highest priority. We continue to collaborate with the LCHD in addressing the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 virus.
Sincerely,
Eric Williams, Ed.D.
Superintendent
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(Image at top: Waxpool Elementary)