SOUTHEASTERN, N.C. — North Carolina State Superintendent Mark Johnson has informed all local superintendents in the public school system they have the full support from the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) if they, along with the county health department, decide to close a school.
Friday morning, New Hanover County Schools announced individuals at Williston Middle School and Forest Hills Global Elementary School have chosen to self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution.
An official who worked at the UNCW-Drexel game on March 7 in Washington, D.C. has tested positive for covid-19, the university announced Friday morning. Twelve student-athletes and 13 staff members from UNCW are now self-quarantined off-campus.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Secretary Dr. Mandy Cohen said selective school closures may be necessary to contain the spread of the covid-19 virus the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic Wednesday. In a press conference Thursday afternoon, Cohen said the state was not recommending school closures at the time.
Five states close all schools
Nationwide, five states and the District of Columbia have canceled all schools across the state to slow the spread of the respiratory illness. Ohio, Maryland, New Mexico, Oregon, and Michigan are the first states that have announced statewide closures so far, according to the Washington Post.
Kentucky has ordered all in-person classes to stop; Washington State closed half the state’s schools. Closest to North Carolina, three county school systems in Virginia ordered a two-week closure Thursday.
Thursday afternoon, N.C. Health Secretary Cohen said closures should be selective in instances when a student or staff is presumed to have contracted covid-19. The closures should be temporary to sanitize the school, she said.
“Please continue to work with your local health departments to determine whether you need to close a school in order to mitigate any potential spread,” Superintendent Johnson’s letter states. “If you and your health department decide to close a school, you will have full support from NC DPI.”
Children are not prone to contract the coronavirus, research shows, however, they can carry the virus and spread it to relatives who are higher-risk. Individuals that are the highest risk of experiencing severe illness from the virus are 60 or older or have pre-existing health issues, including heart or lung disease, diabetes, or a weakened immune system.
As of Friday morning, DHHS is reporting 14 presumed positive and one confirmed positive case covid-19.
Coronavirus Update – Superintendent Mark Johnson by Johanna Ferebee Still on Scribd
