Press release from Henderson County Public Schools:
On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Henderson County Department of Public Health (HCDPH) notified the district that a Henderson County Public Schools employee has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Though local public health officials continue to be the authority in identifying positive cases and investigating close contacts, we are communicating this positive case with our HCPS Family to be transparent in this time of uncertainty and to provide what information we can as a school district. To protect individual privacy, HCPS will not release personal health information about its employees.
But be assured that as with any confirmed case of a communicable disease, the HCDPH is notifying individuals who may have come into contact with this employee, and providing self-isolation guidelines to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Local public health officials presume that Henderson County is now experiencing community spread, and that we will be learning of more positive cases in the days to come. Please remember, the HCDPH will keep the public informed about additional cases that may arise. Local confirmed cases will be reflected on the health department’s website, which is updateddaily by 5:00 p.m.
It is important for our community to understand that the identification of positive cases does not change our local strategies for preventing and reducing the spread of disease. Public health officials stress that, above all else, you should isolate yourself at home if you are sick. Coronavirus symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. If you experience these symptoms, please call your healthcare provider and follow their advice.
Additionally, social distancing is key in reducing the spread of COVID-19. The statewide “stay-at-home” order prohibitsthe gathering of 10 or more people. If you must leave the house for essentials, remember social distancing includes maintaining a distance of 6 feet from others.
Practice good hand hygiene, cover your cough, and routinely clean frequently touched surfaces with household cleaners. Routine use of these measures by everyone will decrease the spread of viruses and respiratory diseases in our community.
It is important to make sure the information you are getting about COVID-19 is coming directly from reliable sources like the CDC, NCDHHS and Henderson County Department of Public Health. For more information, call the North Carolina Coronavirus Hotline at 1-866-462-3821 (staffed by nurses and pharmacists 24/7), or visit the Center for Disease Control’swebsite for information and frequent updates at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.
Be sure to check www.HCPSNC.org/COVID-19 for the latest updates from Henderson County Public Schools, as we continue to communicate with families and staff regarding COVID-19.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.