An individual at Poulsbo Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19, the North Kitsap School District said last week.
The identity of the individual is legally protected health information that must be kept confidential, the NKSD letter states. The Kitsap Public Health District has been informed and close contacts of the individual were notified and advised of precautions to take. Anyone who has not been directly contacted but is concerned about possible exposure should visit the state Department of Health website for guidance.
“We have followed all cleaning protocols … – as the safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our highest priority,” the letter reads.
The letter advises people to follow the NK FIRST health and safety protocols, which are:
- F: Facemasks – Wear a face covering
- I: Ill? Stay home!
- R: Remove germs by washing hands often
- S: Social distancing – Follow all of the requirements
- T: Temperature – Check yourself and your student for COVID symptoms daily
Even if you are not identified as a close contact of the positive individual, NKSD encourages to watch for symptoms of COVID. Those can include any of the following and may appear two to 14 days after exposure: fever of 100.4 degrees or higher, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, fatigue, muscle pain or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea and other signs of new illness that are unrelated to a preexisting condition, such as seasonal allergies.
While many of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions the health department recommends seeking medical evaluation if any of those symptoms develop in the next 14 days. If you develop symptoms, notify your medical provider for evaluation and testing.
The letter concludes: “We are working closely with the Kitsap Public Health District as they conduct case investigation and contact tracing. As soon as we have updated information related to building closures, we will share that with you.”
For details, contact John Waller at jwaller@nkschools.org or Rachel Davenport at rdavenport@nkschools.org.
