Coronavirus Case At Northbrook School Involves 'Individual'

NORTHBROOK, IL — An "individual" at Northbrook District 28 has tested positive for the coronavirus. Parents were informed of the news last week following the Sept. 14 diagnosis. Terry Ryan, communications director for the district, told Patch the district is not revealing whether the person involved was a staff member or student.

An overwhelming majority of Northbrook District 28 students started the 2020-21 school year with in-person learning in August. At that time, Superintendent Dr. Larry Hewitt said 77 percent of students planned to attend school in-person, 22 percent were to enroll in the Remote Learning Academy and 1 percent un-enrolled.

Northbrook School District 28 consists of Greenbriar School (K-5), Meadowbrook School (K-5), Westmoor School (Early childhood and Grades K-5) and Northbrook Junior High School.

Ryan said that if parents have not received a letter indicating such at this time, there is no need to quarantine.

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In a Sept. 14 letter to parents regarding the coronavirus case at Greenbriar, the individual was placed in isolation following the diagnosis. The district states it has been working with the Cook County Department of Public Health on the matter and took the following steps:

• identifying and notifying close contacts (i.e. individuals who were within six feet of the positive case for 15 minutes or longer within a 24-hour period, starting with the 48-hour period before the person developed symptoms)
• quarantining close contacts for 14 days;
• continuing deep cleaning and sanitizing of the school with additional attention spent on areas of potential exposure to the positive case.

Ryan said the school is continuing to implement safety practices to "prevent, promptly identify, and respond to potential COVID-19 exposure," including:

• daily self-certification for staff and students;
• separating and sending home individuals who exhibit COVID-19-like symptoms while at school;
• requiring face coverings and social distancing;
• sanitizing high-touch surfaces (e.g. door handles, handrails, sick faucets, etc.)
• monitoring evolving guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and other entities and updating our practices accordingly.

Related:
Majority Of Northbrook D28 Parents Opt For In-Person Learning