Martin Public Schools today has confirmed one case of the Covid-19 virus.

The district began school in-person five days a week Tuesday, Sept. 8, so only a week into the 2020-21 it already has one case of the Coronavirus.

“We were made aware of a positive case of COVID-19 of one of our Brandon Elementary School staff members,” wrote Supt. Brooke Ballee-Stone in a letter to parents and staff. “The Allegan County Health Department was contacted immediately to start the contact tracing process. Students in the classrooms who have been in close contact with this person (someone who was within six feet for 15 minutes or longer of the infected person) have been contacted.

“According to the latest information given, students and staff in the two classes affected will need to quarantine for 14 days. This means that they will all be participating in remote/online learning until they return on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

“Anyone who is identified as a ‘close contact’ would be contacted separately by the Allegan County Health Department and then given further instructions.

“All staff and students have been diligent in following our instructions to wear masks, practice physical distancing while at school, and we have put our extensive cleaning protocols in place.”

The superintendent asked all staff, parents and students to continue to follow COVID-19 health and safety recommendations from the Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Clean your hands often, either with soap and water for 20 seconds or more or use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
• Avoid close contact with people who are showing any signs of being sick.
• Put distance between yourself and other people (at least six feet if possible).
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when around others.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw away the tissue in a trash container. Clean/wash your hands after you throw away the tissue.
• Clean and disinfect frequently-touched objects and surfaces daily.

For more information or questions, you can call the Allegan County Health Department’s COVID-19 Hotline at 269-686-4546. You may also find additional resources on the Martin Public Schools website.