Holley student in middle-high school tests positive for Covid-19
HOLLEY – A Holley student who was last at the middle-high school campus on Wednesday morning has tested positive for Covid-19, the Orleans County Health Department said today.
“The school learned about the positive case before school this morning and ordered precautionary cleaning and disinfection of the area the student was last in,” said Brian Bartalo, superintendent of Holley Central School District. “The student did not report to school today.”
Holley is working with the local Health Department and New York State Covid-19 School Specialists to assist with contact tracing.
The local Health Department will go back 48 hours from the onset of symptoms or the date of the test to determine any order of quarantining of individuals of close contact with the student.
In this case that would start on Monday, October 19th. As a member of the “White Hawk” cohort, the student who tested positive was not in school on Monday or Tuesday this week. Any communication of the need for quarantine will come directly from the Health Department or the NYS School Liaison. If the local Health Department indicates there is anything further that needs to occur at the school building or district level, families will be updated, Bartalo said.
Paul Pettit, Health Department director, said the district and health officials are unable to legally disclose any further details or personal identifiable information about this student per the federal privacy laws.
If a student in the Holley school district receives confirmation of a positive Covid-19 test, Bartalo urged parents and guardians to contact the school’s nurse or principal immediately “so we can help the Orleans County Health Department most efficiently begin the contact tracing process.”
Any student who has Covid-19 symptoms or has been tested should not report to school until cleared by a medical professional and/or have a negative test result.
“In addition to working closely with the Health Department, we will continue to reinforce the best practices of mask wearing, staying physically distant from others, and handwashing,” Bartalo said.
Symptoms of Covid-19 include but are not limited to fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.
For information on school statistics, click here for the New York State Covid-19 Report Card.
