By Connie Morrison —
Accomack Public Schools Superintendent W.C. “Chris” Holland informed parents by letter Wednesday that a student or staff member at Metompkin Elementary has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
“This person was on school premises on October 28, 2020 and did have direct exposure with several members of our community,” Holland said in the letter, which can be read in its entirety here.
Holland advised that Metompkin will remain open and is working with the local health department “to identify any individuals who had close contact with the person to determine if they might have been exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19.”
Those who have potentially been exposed will be contacted by the health department and asked to stay home and monitor for symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or a temperature higher than 100.4°F, and practice social distancing for 14 days from the last contact with the diagnosed person.
“If you are not contacted by the health department, you do not need to stay home or exclude yourself from activities at this time,” he said.
The letter also contains recommendations for reducing transmission of the virus.
Metompkin is the sixth Eastern Shore school to have had one or more coronavirus or COVID-19 cases in the last few weeks. The others are Occohannock Elementary and Northampton High School, both in Northampton County, and Nandua High School, Arcadia Middle School, and Kegotank Elementary, all in Accomack County.
