On the evening of April 28th, a Lynchburg City Schools staff member reported that they tested positive for COVID-19. This is the first LCS staff member to test positive for the virus.
The staff member is currently in isolation. The staff member was working in the Linkhorne Middle School command center. As a precaution, the Linkhorne Middle School command center will be shut down until further notice. Although the LMS command center will be closed, operations will be moved to E. C. Glass, and students will still receive their breakfast and lunch as regularly scheduled.
In consultation with the Virginia Department of Health, LCS has reviewed all interactions the staff member had to ensure we take appropriate measures with others the individual was in contact with at the command center site.
We continue to strive to ensure the safety of staff and the community we serve. Since the start of the pandemic, LCS staff members followed strict social distancing measures. We will continue to operate out of our three remaining command centers, including Dunbar Middle School, E. C. Glass High School, and Heritage High School. Updates regarding the LMS command center operations will come soon.
Update: April 29, 2020
The Lynchburg City Schools employee who tested positive for COVID-19 on April 28th was working at the Linkhorne Middle School command center, but the employee was not a member of the nutrition and transportation group involved in the preparation of meals.
The command center functions that occur at LMS are in a separate building from the cafeteria where the meals are prepared. This is also true for our three other command center sites (Dunbar Middle, E. C. Glass, and Heritage High). The meal preparation area is kept separate from any other command center functions and emergency childcare areas.
LMS is currently being deep cleaned and disinfected with a misting system using an approved disinfectant for COVID-19 in all areas where staff members have been working.
Lynchburg City Schools is working with local public health officials to develop the employee’s contact history.