Cherry Hill School Employee Has Coronavirus: Officials

BALTIMORE, MD — A staff member from a south Baltimore school tested positive for the new coronavirus, according to authorities. The infected individual showed symptoms after schools closed and has not been back to school since, officials said.

The Baltimore City Health Department alerted Baltimore City Public Schools that one of its staff at the Historic Cherry Hill Elementary/Middle School recently tested positive for COVID-19.

"Based on an investigation by BCHD when the individual began to show symptoms, the employee contracted the virus three days after schools were closed," Baltimore City Public Schools said in a statement Sunday, March 29.

Public schools in Maryland closed from March 16 to March 27 to slow the spread of the virus in the state. State Superintendent of Education Karen Salmon extended the school closures Wednesday through April 24.

Since the announcement of the extended closures, some staff distributed learning packets and emergency meals at schools, and officials said the employee who tested positive for the virus was not among them.

Because of confidentiality laws, the school system could not release any further information about the person.

"Nevertheless, City Schools continues to take proper steps to ensure all buildings, including Cherry Hill, are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized for use both now and when students return," the statement from Baltimore City Public Schools said, outlining steps it has taken:

• Sanitizing schools and offices, especially high-touch areas like handles, buttons, etc.
• Directing staff members to work remotely
• Practicing social distancing when distributing emergency meals or learning packets
• Encouraging frequent handwashing for employees on duty

In Baltimore City, 129 people have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Maryland Department of Health. Two people in Baltimore died from the illness, the mayor reported Saturday.