14 Students Test Positive For Coronavirus At DHS: Superintendent

DEERFIELD, IL — Following the first day of instituting saliva-based testing for students on campus, Township High School District 113 announced Wednesday 14 students at Deerfield High School and one student at Highland Park High School tested positive for the coronavirus. Superintendent Bruce Law warned parents in an email that the "case count you will see is high."

Three of those positive cases at DHS were reported by SHIELD, who conducts the saliva-based testing, and one at HPHS. Eleven of the 14 cases at DHS came from other testing.

"The case count shows that COVID-19 is still with us and we continue to navigate the challenges it poses," Karen Warner, director of communications for District 113, told Patch. "We also continue to work with the Lake County Health Department and to follow their guidance in addressing the cases that occur and to mitigate risk."

Warner said the district will provide an update on attendance and SHIELD testing numbers Monday at the Township High School District 113 Board of Education meeting, scheduled for 6 p.m.

District 113 transitioned to hybrid learning on Feb. 23. SHIELD testing is being used twice-a-week on Tuesday and Friday for students participating in hybrid learning or who are on campus for athletics and activities. Law said the correspondence marked the first time since Jan. 31 that a confirmed case notice regarding someone testing positive on one of the campuses had been sent out.

District 113 is working with Passport Health, a travel immunization company, and SHIELD Illinois, the COVID-19 screening program developed by the University of Illinois, on saliva testing. While the testing is mandatory for students, it is voluntary for on-campus staff.

Related: Drool For School: Saliva Testing Mandatory For D113 Students

Law said a FAQ will be added to the SHIELD page on the district's website for any questions parents have regarding the program.

"The Lake County Health Department told us that we are doing all the right things with multiple layers of mitigation and following proper procedures," Law said. "Of course, if their assessment or guidance changes, we will follow their recommendation."

Law also noted that with SHIELD testing, the district has committed funds and personnel to contact the parents/guardians of students who test positive and begin gathering information on close contacts, those within 6 feet for longer than 15 minutes, to comply with LCHD’s contact tracing data requirements. Unless parents are contacted by District 113 or the LCHD, Law said there is nothing further the student needs to do.