Harris County teacher self-quarantines due to potential coronavirus exposure, district says
A Columbus-area teacher has voluntarily self-quarantined due to a potential exposure to the coronavirus.
The Harris County School District announced Tuesday morning that over the weekend a teacher at Harris County Carver Middle School “made contact with” a congressman that has voluntarily self-quarantined due to potential exposure to COVID-19.
“Out of an abundance of caution, the teacher also has voluntarily self-quarantined,” the news release says. “At this time, no one (in Harris County) has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and the risk remains low; however, as precautionary measures, we are vigilantly deep cleaning the building. At this time, all schools will remain in session. The safety of all involved and our community remains a priority. School district officials will remain vigilant in monitoring this situation and more information is coming.”
The congressman and the details of the contact weren’t disclosed in the news release, but HCSD spokeswoman Rachel Crumbley told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email that the teacher shook hands with U.S. Rep. Doug Collins, R-Georgia.
Collins was in Columbus this weekend for the grand opening of the Muscogee County Republican Headquarters, according to WRBL.
Collins is among the six members of Congress CNN reported to be self-quarantined or otherwise isolated for the recommended 14 days.
NPR reported that, at last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Collins came in contact with a person who later tested positive for COVID-19.
Crumbley told the L-E that she doesn’t know at which event the teacher shook hands with Collins. Crumbley said the teacher doesn’t have any symptoms but self-quarantined out of an abundance of caution.
This story was originally published March 10, 2020 at 9:20 AM.
