Coronavirus Exposure Causes Closures At 2 PG County Schools

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD — Two Prince George's County Public Schools will be closed the rest of the week after an individual associated with the schools had close contact with someone who had traveled to another country under a high-risk coronavirus (COVID-19) warning,

As a precaution, PGCPS Chief Executive Officer Monica Goldson announced Wednesday that Eleanor Roosevelt High School and College Park Academy will be closed on Thursday, March 12 and Friday, March 13, sot that they can be cleaned and sanitized. Staff and students are expected to return to school on Monday, March 16.

PGCPS will not identify the name of the individual connected to the two schools due to confidentiality rules, according to Goldson.

"The Prince George’s County Health Department is conducting an investigation and gathering important information from the patient to help keep the public safe and healthy," Goldson said. "The closures affect all programming at the school, including before and after-school activities and all athletic, extracurricular and weekend events."

PGCPS will host a COVID-19 telephone town hall on Thursday, March 12, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with Goldson, County Health Officer Dr. Ernest Carter, and Dr. George Askew, county deputy chief administrative officer for Health, Human Services, and Education. Residents will receive a phone call at 6:30 p.m. to join the town hall. Follow the prompts to join the call. Those who do not receive at 6:30 p.m., may call 855-756-7520 ext. 56844#.

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For additional information and resources visit the PGCPS coronavirus online resource.

Health officials urge residents to take these steps to avoid the virus:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer only if soap and water are not available.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Stay home if you are sick.
• Avoid contact with sick people.

Related:

• Coronavirus: 2 New Presumptive Positive Cases In PG County
• MD Coronavirus: 6th Confirmed Case Reported In PG County
• Passengers On Cruise Ship Hit By Coronavirus Headed To Georgia
• 2 New Coronavirus Cases In Maryland: Governor Hogan
• Coronavirus Exposure Possible At National Harbor Conference
• 3 Have New Coronavirus; MD Governor Declares State Of Emergency
• MD Coronavirus Patients Were At 2 Public Events, Hogan Concerned
• Coronavirus Testing Costs Waived In Maryland
• Coronavirus Guidance Updated For PG County Schools

COVID-19 Fast Facts

• Coronavirus refers to a family of different viruses. For instance, the common cold is a coronavirus. So is SARS. COVID-19, however, is a new strain.
• Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning that they can spread between people and animals.
• Symptoms include a fever, coughing and shortness of breath.
• COVID-19 can spread between people who are about 6 feet apart from each other and through respiratory droplets (produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes), the CDC says.
• An infected person may not experience symptoms for up to 14 days.