Staff Member Tests Positive For Coronavirus At Deerfield High

DEERFIELD, IL — An employee at Deerfield High School has tested positive for the coronavirus Tuesday according to a letter to parents from Principal Kathryn Anderson. Township High School District 113 began the 2020-21 school year with full remote learning on Aug. 17.

Anderson said the school is following guidance from the Lake County Health Department and the staff member is now in isolation. Contact tracing is underway with the health department contacting the staff member directly and any close contacts will be identified, contacted and provided guidance.

"If you do not receive communication from school administration or the Lake County Health Department, your student has not been identified as a close contact and can continue to come into the building only for scheduled activities," Anderson said in the letter. "If you are contacted by the school or the Lake County Health Department, we ask that you please cooperate in providing information to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our school community."

Following federal privacy laws, the school is not sharing the name of the staff member or providing any information that would otherwise lead to the identification of the person. Anderson also warned parents to be aware of scams as contact tracers will never ask for a social security number, money, bank or credit card information or any form of payment. They will also not ask for immigration status or threaten consequences for not participating or answering questions, according to Anderson.

"Given the spread of COVID-19 in Lake County, we should not be surprised when presumed positive or positive test results are identified within our community," Anderson said. "It may continue to occur, and this is a major reason why mitigation strategies such as maintaining social distancing, masking, and handwashing are still very important."

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