Coronavirus: High school in Washington state to close Thursday due to virus concerns

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Credit: CDC via AP, File

Credit: CDC via AP, File

This illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in January 2020 shows the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

Bothell High School in Washington state will close Thursday after a staff member who returned to work from international travel, reported that a family member traveling with them became sick, according to a letter to Northshore School District families.

According to the letter, the staffer's family member was taken to the hospital and is currently being treated, monitored and quarantined. Meanwhile, the staff member is being quarantined at home for 14 days.

"At this time, there is no confirmation that the family member's illness is connected to the coronavirus outbreak, but out of an abundance of caution, the family member is being tested," according to the letter sent to families.

The school district contacted the Washington State Department of Health, which said the test results could take up to seven days.

“While today, our support services staff have been taking initial steps to disinfect the areas where the staff member traveled on the campus, we need more time to fully and completely disinfect the entire school as a preventive measure,” Northshore School District Superintendent Michelle Reid wrote in the letter.

The district said it is contacting the families of students and visitors who came in contact with the staff member Monday

About the Author