Mahomet-Seymour High School student tests positive for COVID-19

A student at Mahomet-Seymour High School has tested positive for COVID-19. The student attended school on “A” day, or Tuesday and Thursday.

“We are coordinating our efforts with Champaign Urbana Public Health District to promptly identify and monitor individuals who have had recent contact with the COVID-19 positive students to prevent further spread within our school and community. The health and safety of all students and staff is our highest priority, and we recognize the uncertainty and concern regarding the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. We are following guidance from the CUPHD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as well as the state health department for best practices and procedures to protect everyone’s health moving forward,” Superintendent Lindsey Hall wrote in an email to parents.

Fifteen students were exposed to the virus. Champaign-Urbana Health Director Julie Pryde said that the health department is tracing back from two days on the onset of symptoms or a positive test.

To prevent further spread of the disease, the district is taking the following steps, at the direction of CUPHD:
• Placing other students who are identified as having prolonged close contact to the COVID-19 case(s) in quarantine for 14 days. Close contacts will also receive a separate notification from the CUPHD about the quarantine. Anyone impacted by this case in this manner will be contacted by CUPHD.
• Ongoing monitoring of students and staff for signs and symptoms of illness and evaluation of illness reports to promptly identify possible outbreaks.
• Conducting a deep clean and disinfection of any other areas impacted by potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus, such as restrooms.
• The entire high school will be deep cleaned/disinfected with our Clorox 360 machine this weekend.