Someone within TISD has COVID-19, officials report

A Texarkana Independent School District student or employee has tested positive for COVID-19, according to information released Monday by officials.

But district officials believe "there is no high level of exposure" and "operations at the campus will continue as usual."

TISD officials were notified on Sunday about the positive case after the person attended freshman orientation, or Tiger Camp, on Saturday, said Tina Veal-Gooch, TISD communications manager, in an interview with the Gazette.

Parents and guardians who attended, as well as all staff members, were also notified of the situation, as required by the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

The wearing of masks and social distancing were implemented at Saturday's event, Veal-Gooch said.

On Monday morning, Texas High School principal Carla Dupree sent out required notification to district stakeholders.

"The health and safety of TISD students, staff and community are a top priority. You are receiving this required notification letter because there is an employee or student on campus that has tested positive for COVID-19. This is only a required notification letter. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) requires that we notify all staff when we have a confirmed positive COVID-19 case on campus," according to the statement. "This does not mean that staff were in close contact and exposed to COVID-19."

"After careful review, we believe that the COVID-positive individual did not come in close contact with students or staff as defined by TEA. Appropriate masks and social distancing were in place. The areas where they were located have been cleaned and sanitized. Operations at the campus will continue as usual, and we will keep you apprised of further updates," Dupree's notification reads.

"We have notified the local health department, as required, and at this time they believe there is no high level of exposure.

"Per TEA, close contact is defined as: a) being directly exposed to infectious secretions (e.g., being coughed on); or b) being within 6 feet for a cumulative duration of 15 minutes; however, additional factors like case/contact masking (i.e., both the infectious individual and the potential close contact have been consistently and properly masked), ventilation, presence of dividers and case symptomology may affect this determination," Dupree's statement reads.

"Either (a) or (b) defines close contact if it occurred during the infectious period of the case, defined as two days prior to symptom onset to 10 days after symptom onset. In the case of asymptomatic individuals who are lab-confirmed with COVID-19, the infectious period is defined as two days prior to the confirming lab test and continuing for 10 days following the confirming lab test.

"While we do not have reason to believe those who were not in close contact with the infected individual have reason to be concerned, we ask that you, as always to watch for symptoms of COVID-19," according to Dupree's statement.

TISD will continue to be in contact with the Bowie County Emergency Operations Center to keep parents, students and staff notified about any future cases.

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