Participant in Valley High School NYC trip tested positive for coronavirus

The spouse of a New Kensington-Arnold School District employee went on a bus trip to New York City with the Valley High School Marching Band and later tested positive for coronavirus, district officials confirmed Saturday.

About 102 people — students, staff and chaperones — were in the group that was in New York City from March 5 to March 8, Superintendent John Pallone said.

The state of New York declared a state of emergency on March 7 because of the spread of the virus; New York City declared a state of emergency March 12.

The band members were in school the week of March 9, school board President John Cope said. All Pennsylvania schools were closed beginning March 16.

The annual trip by the band boosters had been approved last October, Pallone said Saturday in an emailed response.

Asked why the trip was not canceled, Pallone deferred to the booster group.

“It is my understanding that they reviewed the matter a couple of days before they were scheduled to travel,” he wrote. “It is my further understanding that there was not a travel ban in place on the date that they left, that NYC was only on Watch Level 1, per the CDC, which does not generally recommend canceling or postponing travel to destinations with Level 1 travel notices because the risk of covid-19 is thought to be low. And the group fully intended to take the necessary routine precautions.”

A Facebook page for the “Valley Marching Band” displayed pictures of the New York City trip, including pictures of students in Times Square and Manhattan on March 5; Liberty and Ellis islands on March 6; and the band performing on the deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid, having dinner before a Broadway show and visiting the space shuttle Enterprise on March 7.

The Facebook page was changed so that it was no longer public after this story was posted online Saturday night.

“Despite early indications that participants would be safe, looking back it appears that there was a greater risk,” Assistant Superintendent Jon Banko said in a recorded message sent Friday to those who went on the trip. “Yesterday (Thursday) the district was notified that one of the trip participants has tested positive for the coronavirus.”

The message did not identify who had tested positive.

The district made no mention of the band trip when it announced Friday that the spouse of a district employee had tested positive. In a release then, Pallone said he did not know where or how the person had been exposed to the virus.

2 others in self-quarantine

Two other district employees are self-quarantined while awaiting test results, Pallone said Saturday.

The incubation period for coronavirus — the time between catching the virus and beginning to have symptoms — ranges from one to 14 days, and is most commonly around five days, according to the World Health Organization.

“Since the trip was nearly two weeks ago all participants are nearing the end of the incubation period for the virus,” Banko said in Friday’s recording. “If you have not displayed symptoms, it is likely that members of your household will be OK. If, however, a family member has displayed any symptoms, you should contact your family physician as soon as possible.”

Arnold resident Deborah Schreckengost said her 15-year-old grandson, a ninth-grader at Valley High School, is in the band and went on the trip. On Saturday, she said her grandson and his family were all fine.

“As of right now we’re hoping and praying for the best,” she said. “Tomorrow makes two weeks and no one is ill. We are hoping they totally avoided that.”

In a release issued Saturday, the district said its “grab and go” student meals will continue until further notice, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays.