Another Idaho school employee tests positive for the coronavirus
A Vallivue Middle School employee has tested positive for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
The employee has not entered Vallivue Middle School in Caldwell since March 13 and did not start showing symptoms until March 23, according to a districtwide email sent Wednesday evening from Julie Douty, the health services supervisor for the Vallivue School District.
Douty shared that email with the Idaho Statesman.
The district has since disinfected all Vallivue schools during the March 23-27 spring break, Douty wrote.
“Students and staff should not be at additional risk from this case,” Douty wrote. “Since we have community spread, Southwest District Health is recommending to everyone to continue monitoring for symptoms along with maintaining social distancing and strict hand hygiene.”
Douty did not say if a teacher, administrator or other staff member was the one who tested positive.
Vallivue is the third known Idaho school district to come in contact with the coronavirus. An Idaho resident who entered Middleton Middle School on March 11 and 12 was Canyon County’s first confirmed coronavirus case on March 21. The Middleton School District declined to reveal if that person works for the school district or was a visitor.
A staff member of Twin Falls’ Canyon Ridge High School has also tested positive earlier this week.
The Idaho State Board of Education has ordered all public schools closed until April 20. But it hinted it could extend that closure to the end of the month at its next board meeting Monday to follow updated federal guidelines.
