CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Midlothian High School student has tested positive for COVID-19, the school's principal wrote in an email to parents Wednesday.
"While many organizations are only notifying individuals who are exposed to a positive COVID-19 case, Chesterfield County Public Schools believes that keeping you informed of positive cases in our schools is important," principal Shawn Abel wrote. "Any individuals who were in close contact, as defined by the Virginia Department of Health as within 6 feet (with or without mask) for 15 minutes or longer during a 24-hour period, would have been notified directly. If you have not been notified, you are not impacted."
Abel made no indication that the school would close based on the positive test result.
Chesterfield Schools are using a hybrid model in which most students are in school for two days and learning from home for two days. All county high schools are closed on Wednesday for a weekly deep cleaning.
The positive test announcement came just two days after Chesterfield middle and high school students were given the option to return to in-person learning.
Elementary school students in Chesterfield were given the option in October.
"Our staff has been continuously cleaning and disinfecting workspaces according to best practices for health-risk mitigation," Abel's message continued. "Thank you for your continued patience and understanding during this difficult time. Maintaining a safe, supportive and nurturing learning environment while also managing staff and student privacy rights remains a top priority."
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can submit a news tip here.
