Person With Positive Test Attended Graduation Ceremony: LCPS Head

POTOMAC FALLS, VA — A person who attended Potomac Falls High School's in-person graduation ceremony in Loudoun County on Wednesday had tested positive for the coronavirus prior to going to the event, the school system announced Friday evening.

Loudoun County Public Schools Superintendent Eric Williams said Friday in an email that the public schools system learned about the person's positive test after the graduation ceremony. Williams did not provide additional information about the identity of the person or how the school system learned after the event that the person had tested positive for the coronavirus before attending the graduation ceremony.

In his email to the Potomac Falls High School community, Williams emphasized that school staff members who attended the graduation practiced precautionary measures intended to prevent the spread of the coronavirus at the ceremony. Participants also were encouraged to maintain physical separation of six feet or more. Only one family was allowed into the auditorium at a time.

When provided a report of a person testing positive for the coronavirus, the Loudoun County Health Department determines the need and extent of a contact investigation based on Virginia Department of Health policies, Williams said. The Virginia Department of Health defines close contacts as people who have been within 6 feet of a person who tests positive for the virus, for 15 minutes or more, starting from 48 hours before symptom onset.

"I hope this information is helpful to you in reviewing your family’s participation in Wednesday’s events," Williams said.

LCPS instructed families to contact their personal physician or the Loudoun County Health Department at 703-737-8300 if they have any questions about what they should do.