By Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Due to outside COVID-19 exposure, one positive case at the Owensville Middle School has resulted in 23 OMS students, two Owensville High School students, and five Gerald Elementary students being asked to quarantine by the health department. An OHS staff member who also tested positive has not resulted in further quarantines.
According to the letter on Sept. 17 sent out by district officials, the student and staff member were both last in attendance on Sept. 15, and asked to self-quarantine due to outside exposure. Neither were showing symptoms. They have both since tested positive.
Both cases are working with the health department through contact tracing. Due to the nature of the staff member’s position, it was determined that no additional students or staff would be asked to quarantine due to having exposed the staff member.
The district reminds parents to monitor their child closely for symptoms of COVID-19, including cough, shortness of breath, new loss of taste or smell, fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, sore throat, congestion, nausea or diarrhea. If symptoms do emerge, contact a personal health provider.
A separate letter sent out Sept. 17 notified parents of students in a fourth grade class that a fellow student was asked to quarantine. The student has not shown any symptoms. During contact tracing, no student was closer than six foot for more than 15 minutes with the quarantined student.
According to information sent out Friday morning for the Gasconade County R-2 Board of Education meeting on Monday, the district currently has five positive cases, five staff in quarantine and 80 students in quarantine.
