CPS employee tests positive for COVID-19
Columbia Public Schools has confirmed one of its employees has tested positive for COVID-19.
CPS notified families and staff through email on Saturday afternoon.
The employee, whose name and position has not been released for privacy reasons, found out the test came back positive Saturday. They were tested yesterday after showing COVID-19 symptoms.
The Boone County Health Department notified CPS this afternoon that one of its employees tested positive for COVID-19.
"Based on the info they gave us, we notified our families just to make them aware that we did have an individual who did test positive but there was no additional need to make direct contact with any specific individuals related to exposure," said Michelle Baumstark, the community relations director for Columbia Public Schools.
Baumstark said the health department conducted a risk assessment and contact investigations for the past 24 hours before symptoms began to show and based on that information, she said there isn't any need for CPS to contact people directly.
"If there had been a high level of exposure or contact, they would've directed us then to begin contacting those individuals who would've been directly affected so, if there would've been a high level of exposure that's what would've happened -- that's not the case in this situation," Baumstark said.
Right now all CPS buildings are closed and class has not been in session since Tuesday.
Baumstark said buildings are being cleaned and sanitized while closed and staff have been instructed to stay away.
Whether or not the case is travel or community-related is unconfirmed.
"I think at this point it's in our community, so everybody just needs to be very vigilant about following the instructions that have been given to all of us in regards to health and safety," Baumstark said.
No other Russell Boulevard Elementary School employees have been tested or have shown COVID-19 symptoms.
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Health and Humans Services sent an email to ABC 17 News regarding this positive case stating, "This case is part of an open investigation and we will not be providing any more information on this individual. As with all other individuals who have a laboratory-confirmed case of COVID-19, we are identifying all close contacts of this individual and will follow-up appropriately with those contacts."
