Coronavirus Cases Inside Prince William County Schools: Update

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — A Prince William County Public Schools fourth-grader and their parent have tested positive for the new coronavirus, or COVID-19, the Prince William Times reported Monday. The student who tested positive attends Pennington Traditional School student and has a low-grade fever of 101 with no other symptoms, according to a letter sent to parents from the elementary school. The student’s parent has been hospitalized for the coronavirus, according to the Prince William Times.

Meanwhile, a staff member has developed symptoms of the coronavirus, Prince William County Public Schools Superintendent Steven L. Walts announced Sunday. Walts said the schools system communicated directly Sunday to the specific school communities affected, which included Benton Middle School, Pennington Traditional School and Bennett Elementary School.

The Prince William Health District advised the Prince William County schools system that the "risk to others is low, and for that reason, to our knowledge, they have not contacted any PWCS families," Walts said. "Nevertheless, PWCS wants to provide the school community with all information known to the Division, which might enable parents to best protect their children during this unpredictable time, and we have provided notifications even when the Health Department does not."

According to a letter sent directly to Pennington Traditional School and Bennett Elementary School families and staff obtained by the Prince William Times, the parent self-quarantined on March 8 and did not have further contact with his children enrolled at Prince William County Public Schools after that time. The students of the family were last in county schools schools on March 11, when they self-quarantined, according to the letter. The county schools subsequently learned that the fourth grader at Pennington Elementary School confirmed positive for the virus.

Bennett Elementary is located on Old Dominion Drive in the Manassas area of Prince William County. Benton Middle School is located on Hoadly Road in the Manassas area. Pennington Traditional School, located on Stonewall Road in Manassas, serves first-through-eighth-grade students in western Prince William County.

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On Friday, March 13, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam ordered all kindergarten through 12th-grade schools in the state to close for at least two weeks starting March 16. On Monday, Northam extended the school closure order through the end of the academic year.

The Prince William County Public Schools systems said all buildings will remain closed to any visitor, except limited support staff. The school system is not permitting students and staff to access school buildings to retrieve personal belongings and other items in order to avoid the spread of the coronavirus.

The Virginia Department of Health confirmed Monday that 254 people have tested positive for the coronavirus and six people have died. The total number of positive tests increased by 35 from the total released Sunday. Prince William County has reported 18 confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

The virus causes minor flu-like symptoms in most people, who recover in a matter of weeks. But it is highly contagious and can cause severe illness or death in some, particularly the elderly and those with underlying health problems.

Northam said Monday the state is "moving into a period of sacrifice."

"I want to personally thank those staff who are working hard to distribute food to our students and families, and those working hard to help our students and families adjust to this difficult situation," Walts said Sunday in his letter. "Also, thank you to all our families and students for your support and flexibility as we work to answer your questions and support your needs."

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