Student, coach at North Hills High School test positive for covid-19

A second person in the North Hills School District has tested positive for covid-19 this week, district officials announced.

A student at the high school developed symptoms over the weekend and was tested. The positive results were returned on Wednesday.

District officials said the student has not been in school or involved in district activities since Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Because of the timeline of when the student was last in school and when symptoms began, no additional action is required by the district.

On Oct. 24, a high school teacher who also serves as a football coach began experiencing covid-19 symptoms. A rapid test conducted the next day revealed that the teacher had contracted the virus.

The teacher was in the classroom with students on Friday, Oct. 23, and attended that night’s football game at Fox Chapel. The coach was wearing a facial covering and following social distancing guidelines to the extent possible, district officials said.

After speaking with the teacher, Superintendent Patrick Mannarino consulted with Allegheny County Health Department officials, who determined that it was unnecessary for the students on the football team to self-quarantine because close contact did not occur, according to district officials.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines close contact as being within 6 feet of someone who has covid-19 for 15 minutes or longer.

District officials said members of the football team should monitor themselves for covid-19 symptoms and contact their primary care physician if they feel sick.

The Allegheny County Health Department recommends a quarantine period of 14 days, but notes that most infections occur within the first few days after exposure.

The health department will handle contract tracing for the cases and issue notices to the people who need to self-quarantine.

The school district has created an online covid-19 tracker that shows the number of cases that have been reported.