Loudoun Schools Transport Staffer Tests Positive For Coronavirus

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA — A Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) transportation staff member who has supported the school system's meal service program has tested positive for the new coronavirus. The staff member is self-isolating, LCPS Superintendent Eric Williams said Thursday night in a message to the school community.

The staff member last worked in the Potomac Falls High School and Dominion High School region of Loudoun County on Thursday, March 26. The person then began exhibiting symptoms last Saturday.

LCPS is using its school bus fleet to provide meal service to students that rely on schools for meal support. The program was put into place after county schools were closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Williams addressed his message to families with students who attend Potomac Falls High School, Dominion High School, River Bend Middle School and Seneca Ridge Middle School, as well as Algonkian, Countryside, Potowmack, Horizon, Lowes Island, Meadowland and Sugarland elementary schools. All of the schools are located north of Route 7 between Leesburg and Sterling.

More than 10 LCPS staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease. One LCPS staff member has died from COVID-19.

The Virginia Department of Health has updated its guidelines to define “close contacts” as people who have had close contact within six feet for 15 minutes or more with a person who tests positive for the coronavirus starting from 48 hours before the onset of symptoms.

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According to the Loudoun County Health Department, there currently is no evidence showing that the coronavirus can be transmitted by food. Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission, Williams said in his message.

As of Thursday, Virginia has 1,706 positive cases of the coronavirus, which includes 246 hospitalizations. There have been 41 reported deaths in the state. Loudoun County has reported 121 positive cases of the coronavirus.

The county school system began providing meals to students on March 13 after schools were ordered closed for two weeks by Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Since then, Northam has ordered the schools closed for the rest of the academic year.

Students are instructed to practice social distancing at all times while picking up meals. Loudoun County Public School Nutrition Services staff place the meals in a visible location so they can be picked up without students having to take the meals from their hands. Eligible students are permitted to take a breakfast and lunch each day.

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