Wakefield High School families and employees,
We have been notified that an individual associated with one of our athletic teams has tested positive for COVID-19. This individual was last on our campus November 9, 2020.
We are working closely with the Wake County Public Health Division and the individual to identify and notify anyone who may have been in close contact with the individual to provide them further instructions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines close contact as being “within 6 feet of an infected person for a total of 15 minutes or more.”
There is nothing for you to do unless you are contacted by your local health department. If you are contacted by your local health department, please respond immediately and follow their instructions.
If you are worried you may have been exposed and are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, you can be tested at one of the free testing locations throughout Wake County. You may also consult with your healthcare provider or call the Wake County COVID Hotline at 919-856-7044.
Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever or chills, a new cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, or a new loss of taste or smell.
Following guidelines from the NC Department of Health and Human Services and WCPSS, the person with COVID-19 will not return to a WCPSS facility until they have met the requirements outlined on the Returning To School After Diagnosis, Exposure, or Illness website.
Privacy Laws
While we understand the concerns of families and employees, the school system is prohibited by state and federal law from disclosing the health information of students or employees. Each individual’s health information is a private matter. No one should publicly declare another employee or student as sick. In the event others need to be notified of a suspected or positive case of COVID-19, local health officials will notify them and provide them further instructions. Do not notify colleagues, students or families of positive cases. To protect individual privacy, notifications will not identify anyone by name or contain information that could be used to identify them.
School Cleaning
We will have areas that may have been exposed to the virus thoroughly cleaned in accordance with NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) and Wake County Public Health guidelines, using an EPA approved disinfectant for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
Precautions to prevent the spread of germs
To help prevent the spread of germs, the CDC, NCDHHS, and Wake County Public Health Division emphasize the importance of complying with the 3 Ws:
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Wear a cloth mask over your nose and mouth.
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Wait apart, in order to create as much distance as possible. Avoid close contact.
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Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer.
Emotional support
Students feeling anxious about this situation should reach out to their school counselor or principal for support.
Employees feeling anxious about this situation can visit the Employee Assistance Program site on WakeConnect for additional resources and support.
Additional Information about COVID-19
For more information about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please visit these websites:
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation.
Yours,
Malik Bazzell, Principal
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