Some First State public schools are closed for the rest of the week amid concerns about the novel coronavirus.
Great Oaks Charter and Kuumba Academy cancelled classes Thursday and Friday to allow the Community Education Building they share in downtown Wilmington to get a deep cleaning.
The cleaning was prompted by the travel history and flu-like symptoms of a member of the Great Oaks staff. In its statement to parents, Great Oaks said that person recently traveled to Thailand and South Korea—a country currently under a level three federal travel advisory.
That staff member has been out of the school since Friday, March 6, but a COVID-19 diagnosis has not been confirmed.
Laurel School District schools will also be closed Thursday and Friday. District officials say a staff member recently had contact with a traveler from a Level-3 Country.
Both the staff member and traveler show no symptoms and have not been diagnosed with COVID-19, but the district is closing its schools to allow for a deep cleaning. Extra-curricular activities are also cancelled.
In both situations, Delaware’s Division of Public Health said the schools could remain open, but in each case school officials decided to err on the side of caution and close for cleaning.
Great Oaks Charter, Kuumba Academy and the Laurel School District all aim to reopen Monday.
