King Philip Student in Self-Quarantine After International Travel

WRENTHAM — A King Philips Acadamy student is in self-quarantine, after returning from one of the countries identified by the Center for Disease Control as having the highest risk of catching COVID-19, or the new coronavirus that first broke out in China and has spread world-wide, Superintendent Paul Zinni of the King Philip Regional School District announced Saturday.

There are currently no confirmed or presumptive cases of COVID-19 in Wrentham, Plainville or Norfolk, according to the district.

As of Saturday the state confirmed the number of positive cases of coronavirus in Massachusetts rose to 13. A UMass-Boston student remains the only case confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. COVID-19 has been identified by the state in the 12 other cases, and dubbed those "presumptive positive." It forwarded those results to the CDC for final confirmation.

Although the unnamed student is not showing any symptoms, they will stay in self-quarantine and has been practicing social isolation until 14 days has elapsed since their return to the U.S, according to officials. The student recently returned from a country identified by the CDC as having a Level 3 Travel Notice, but did not specify which country or what day they returned. In addition to China, Italy, South Korea and Iran were dubbed the highest risk for the spread of the coronavirus.

The district stressed it is taking precautions in accordance with advice received by the municipal public health officials in its three communities as well as the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The school district does not issue orders to self-quarantine. That decision would need to come from the local or state boards of health or a personal primary care physician or healthcare provider.

King Philip's facilities staff, led by Director Joe Zahner, are cleaning of the district's facilities, using electrostatic spray machines, which are particularly effective at controlling the spread of viruses during the weekend ahead of classes on Monday.

Officials said it is being done out of an "abundance of caution" and mirrors efforts underway at many school districts across the nation.

"We have an excellent facilities staff, and its members take great pride in ensuring safe, clean and healthy buildings for our students, faculty and staff," Zinni said in a statement. "I want to thank our staff for taking the time this weekend to thoroughly clean the school buildings."

According to Zahner, 11 facilities staffers reported to both school buildings on Saturday and cleaned and disinfected the buildings, including desks, chairs, light switches, door pushes, pencil sharpeners, fitness equipment, lockers, conference tables, band rooms, lavatories, faculty rooms, offices, all floors and more.

King Philip is also coordinating with the elementary school districts and Holmes Bus Service to ensure that all school buses are sanitized this weekend.

The risk to residents of contracting COVID-19 remains low, according to local department of public health officials.

Local, state and federal health officials are encouraging residents to prevent infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19, from spreading:

• Wash hands frequently, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
• When sick yourself, stay home to protect others and practice social distancing.
• Always cover your cough or sneeze.

Anyone who is experiencing a fever and respiratory illness and is concerned they have either come into contact with the virus or traveled to an affected country within the last 14 days is advised to contact their primary health care provider.

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Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that include the common cold as well as much more serious diseases. The strain that emerged in China in late 2019, now called COVID-19, is related to others that have caused serious outbreaks in recent years, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the U.S. was on Jan. 21.

For more information, visit the DPH website by clicking here and the CDC’s website by clicking here.