NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Newport News Public Schools reached out to three high school's families after four students were ordered to stay home to monitor a possible case of coronavirus after returning from their trip to China.
Denbigh, Warwick, and Woodside High School families were informed according to a statement that the four students have been placed on self monitoring at home with public health supervision for 14 days.
"There’s no reason to be alarmed. The public should be safe," Larry Hill, a VDH Spokesperson, said. "We see no signs of the coronavirus here."
The Center for Disease Control established the protocols in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus, according to the official statement.
The students attended school for one day during the week of February 3, before they were ordered to stay at home.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, the students posed "little to no risk to the school population."
The students and their families were screened before leaving China and before returning home at a CDC quarantine station.
The Virginia Department of Health and CDC will continue to monitor the students and their families, according to a statement released by Newport News Public Schools.
"This family is not showing any symptoms but we’re following the guidelines the CDC provided us," Hill said. "The family has been very cooperative with us and the school system."
Coronavirus causes a respiratory illness similar to flu symptoms. Anyone experiencing symptoms should go see their doctor, officials advise.
Officials also advise students with a fever of 100 degrees or higher should stay home. As for the family, Hill said,""After 14 days and there’s no symptoms, there’s no problem at all. They’ll be able to do whatever they want to do."
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