Lawrence High School teacher is self-quarantining

A Lawrence High teacher is self-quarantining at home after being exposed to a person — not from the school district — who was diagnosed with COVID-19 coronavirus. According to Superintendent Dr. Ann Pedersen, the teacher has not tested positive.

The teacher sent a text to students: “Good morning everyone! I don’t know if you have heard yet, but I am on quarantine because of exposure to somebody who was diagnosed with the coronavirus. I do not have the coronavirus nor am I sick or have any symptoms, but as a measure of precaution, I will stay at home for another week and a half because that will be the two weeks since exposure to the infected person."

“The teacher has reported that she was at a large gathering over the weekend and just found out that someone at that gathering has tested positive for coronavirus," Pedersen and high school Principal Dr. Jennifer Lagnado-Papp stated in a March 11 letter to the school community.

Pedersen said the teacher’s classroom was cleaned in the morning of March 11, before school opened.

The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic, which is when a disease is prevalent over an entire country or globally.

Pedersen said the district is working closely with state and local health agencies to have the most up-to-date information to help ensure the safety and health of the students and staff.

Hewlett-Woodmere School District officials said there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus in its schools.

Preventive measures that everyone can do include staying at least six feet away from people, washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, using hand sanitizer, blocking coughs and sneezes, and staying home if ill or your children are sick. Keeping surfaces clean that many people touch such as doorknobs and stair banisters is also recommended.