Coronavirus Exposure at St. Elizabeth School!
 
Dear St. E’s parish family,
 
I was notified late today that a member of our St. Elizabeth School community has tested positive for coronavirus. As a result, Fr. Stefan, myself, and our entire parish staff have been potentially exposed and are under instructions to self-isolate until this Friday, March 27. At that time two weeks will have passed since our last potential exposure. Happily, none of us has developed any symptoms yet.
 
This potential exposure to staff means that our church has also been potentially contaminated by the coronavirus, and I regret to inform you that we are closing our church to public access until further notice.
 
Please find below the communication that went out to our school community. And please pray for us and for an end to this pandemic.
 
With kind personal regards and assurance of my continued prayers for you, I am
 
Sincerely in Christ,
 
Msgr. Bill Parent
 

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Dear Parents and Guardians,

We regret to inform you that St. Elizabeth School has a member in the community who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.  Someone in our Kindergarten class has been confirmed positive. Due to confidentiality, the identity of this person will not be disclosed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). St. Elizabeth School has been closed for students since Thursday, March 12, 2020, and for staff since Friday, March 13, 2020. The individual is recovering at home on self-quarantine.
 
We have contacted the Catholic Schools Office, and together we have contacted the Montgomery County Department of Health for guidance. Since the incubation period is 14 days, the Health Department recommends that individuals who were in the school should self-isolate. Therefore, students should self-isolate until Thursday, March 26, 2020. Faculty and staff should self-isolate until Friday, March 27, 2020. 

It is important to monitor health within your family. Symptoms include coughing, fever, and shortness of breath. Call your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms. Please inform your healthcare provider that you had ‘ contact with a positive COVID-19’. The healthcare provider will make the determination in referring you to a testing center.

It is important to follow all guidelines provided at this time.  Please stay at home, continue preventive measures, and practice social distancing. For more information about symptoms and testing, please use this link: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html   In addition, see Frequently Asked Questions from the Maryland Department of Health: https://phpa.health.maryland.gov/Documents/coronavirus_FAQ.pdf

St. Elizabeth School is following guidance from the CDC on cleaning and disinfecting of the school. We continue to pray for all those affected by this virus especially our teachers, staff, and students at St. Elizabeth School.