Horsham School To Close Tuesday Over Coronavirus Concerns

HORSHAM, PA — An elementary school in Horsham will be closed Tuesday for cleaning after a student there may have been exposed to the new coronavirus.

Hatboro-Horsham School District Superintendent Curtis Griffin said Monday afternoon that Simmons Elementary School, at 411 Babylon Rd., will be closed Tuesday for a deep cleaning.

In a letter posted on the district's website, Griffin said the student may have been exposed to the virus, known as COVID-19, during a visit to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia facility in King of Prussia. A healthcare worker at that facility has been diagnosed with the virus.

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The student has not tested positive for the virus and is not showing symptoms, Griffin said. The possible exposure happened on Thursday and the student was at school Friday and early Monday, before being sent home following guidance from the state Department of Health.

RELATED: Pennsylvania Coronavirus Case Count Up To 10

According to Griffin, the Department of Health said the Simmons student poses "low risk" to the school community.

"However, out of an abundance of caution, I have decided to close Simmons Elementary on Tuesday, March 10 for deep cleaning of the facilities," Griffin said in the letter. "We are assessing the length of time needed to perform this deep cleaning and additional days may be needed. We will keep the community updated."

All evening and community events planned at the school on Monday and Tuesday are canceled. All other Hatboro-Horsham schools will operate on a normal scheduled Tuesday.

As part of the Hatboro-Horsham School District's preparation for the coronavirus, officials have created a Web page providing the latest district-related news on the virus.

Monday's announcement about Simmons Elementary came hours after health officials said a seventh presumptive case of the coronavirus has been discovered in Montgomery County. It marked the 10th case of the coronavirus in Pennsylvania.