HOLLAND, Mich. — Holland Public Schools says they are following their return to learn plan after 2 students tested positive for COVID-19.
"We knew it was a matter of when, not if" says Jason Craner, Holland Public Schools' spokesperson. Craner told FOX 17 they have a plan in place for this situation and believe their plan has worked so far.
The district partnered with the Ottawa County Department of Public Health (OCDPH), and lean on their expertise.
They emphasized social distancing and wearing masks to students and can track students through seating charts, class and bus schedules.
Once the positive cases were reported to the school, Holland Public School Officials contacted OCDPH, giving them information to start contact tracing. The health department then called anyone in close contact with the students so they can get tested and quarantine.
Craner says the district expects to learn more as the tests come back from the people in close contact with the two students and they will tweak the plan as needed.
"[We're] doing all things we are required to do to keep the kids safe while they're here." Craner says the cases were caught early and is confident the plan in place will help protect the rest of the 3100 students in the district and the staff.
Starting Thursday, Holland Public Schools will update community about the situation once they have info from contact tracing testing. Updates will be on last day of the school week each week, published on the school website.
The school asks if you're an Holland Public Schools family and you have not been contacted, then you have not had a close contact with these positive cases. The district will continue to watch for symptoms and ask families to do self screening to catch possible positives before they get to school.