WC Iowa News

The Greene County Community School District has responded to a single confirmed COVID-19 case in the elementary and middle schools with a mandatory mask order for all students and staff in both the elementary and middle school buildings.

District Superintendent Tim Christensen announced the confirmed case on social media, but did not specify whether the affected individual was a student or a staff member, according to coverage by The Perry News. 

“Please understand that we must protect the privacy of all Greene County Schools students and staff and we cannot share further details,” The Perry News quoted from the district’s social media post. “We will remain in contact with the individuals to provide our support and ensure they are not contagious before returning to school/work.”

Students in the elementary and middle schools will be required to wear a mask at all times while in the buildings, according to The Perry News.

The district posted that it is working with the Greene County Public Health Department to assist in identifying those who may have been exposed to the infected individual, according to The Perry News. Those who are believed to have been within six feet of an infected individual for 15 minutes or more will be contacted through the health department and required to quarantine for two weeks.

The school district will work with students from the elementary and middle schools whose families do not wish to have them wear a mask by moving them to remote learning, according to The Perry News.

During a recent briefing of the Greene County School Board on the situation, Christensen said that, as essential employees, teachers who are not symptomatic will remain in their classrooms, according to The Perry News. However, staff will also be subjected to frequent temperature screenings and be instructed to take extra precautions.