By Dylan Murphy
The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) recently announced that a student at Herndon High School has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. The student, who self-reported their positive testing, remains anonymous. Individuals who were in close contact with the student are to be contacted by the FCHD, who is working to trace back and identify how extensive the spread has been. If you’re not notified by the FCHD, you are not considered to have been exposed to the case.
Last week, Governor Northam strengthened COVID-19 restrictions, limiting the numbers of people in indoor/outdoor gathering from 250 to 25. All businesses must close by 12 a.m, and the state’s mask mandate is now required for children five and up. (previously it was 10 and over) Hospitalizations in Virginia due to COVID-19 have also increased to over 900, compared to 600 in August.
Prior to the increase in cases and crackdown on restrictions, FCPS had been preparing for a return to in-person learning, organizing students into groups and phasing them in gradually. The first major return, which would affect pre-K, kindergarten, and select special needs students, was set for November 17th. Yet, the day right before this, FCPS decided to delay the process indefinitely. This was in response to the new risks on the rise, namely the surge in Virginia cases, one of which affected one of our own students.
Courtesy of Virginia Department of Health
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