Someone At Ward Melville HS Tests Positive For Coronavirus

SETAUKET, NY — Someone at Ward Melville High School tested positive for the coronavirus, Three Village superintendent Cheryl Pedisich told the community on Monday. The district did not say if the person who has COVID-19 is a student or staff member.

The person had not been in the building since coming in contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus, Pedisich said. All affected areas were cleaned, disinfected and reopened for use.

The district, which has been in contact with the Suffolk County Department of Health, is following all necessary procedures to mitigate any exposure to other students or staff, according to Pedisich.

"As always, the health and safety of our students and staff is our foremost priority," Pedisich wrote. "The individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be allowed to return to school for at least 10 days or after a negative test result has been provided to the district."

The district will assist the Suffolk County Department of Health in contact tracing efforts by providing a list of probable close contacts; defined as anyone being within six feet of the infected person for at least 10 minutes without wearing a mask.

The identification of close contacts should begin 48 hours before the student became symptomatic, or 48 hours before the student was tested for the coronavirus and is asymptomatic, the district said. Identified close contacts should also remain at home for 14 days of quarantine from when they were exposed to the infected person.

If a child is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, they were asked by the district to call their child's medical provider to report their illness: fever; coughing; shortness of breath; runny nose; sore throat; nausea; lethargy; lack of appetite; vomiting; and diarrhea.

"We are closely monitoring this situation and will provide you with updates as we learn more," Pedisich said.