Norwin school officials said the district learned this past week that a high school student tested positive for covid-19.

The student will not return until they have completed isolation procedures for covid-19.

The school said last Tuesday that the only individuals who need to quarantine are those who have been or will be contacted by the state Department of Health, the school nurse, or a school act administrator. The families will be updated if the health department requires more steps, the district said.

Norwin has had about 25 students and staff who have reported testing positive for covid-19.

Heather Newell, principal of Sheridan Terrance Elementary School and the district’s pandemic coordinator, said that the health department has provided an advisory to clarify the Centers for Disease Control guidance on how a 15-minute exposure time to someone with coronavirus should be assessed.

The health department defines the term “close contact” as 15 consecutive minutes of exposure at a distance of 6 feet or less.

But there are circumstances when someone should be considered a close contact of a case after being within 6 feet for fewer than 15 consecutive minutes, such as being face to face, having a long cumulative exposure time, if the person is symptomatic and the person is coughing, singing or shouting, as well as if the environment is crowded, inadequately ventilated or indoors.

If a person is identified as being a close contact of a covid-19 case, the health department strongly recommends testing for coronavirus at least two or three days after the exposure, regardless of the presence of symptoms., Newell said.

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