2nd Deer Lakes staffer tests positive for covid-19

A Deer Lakes High School staff member has tested positive for covid-19, spokeswoman Coby Detar said.

The district released a statement about the case on Tuesday. The statement did not identify the infected individual other than to say its a high school staff member.

“We cannot divulge the names of the employees who test positive due to HIPAA, FERPA and other privacy laws,” Detar said.

This is the second covid-19 case reported at Deer Lakes in recent weeks. Last week, the district informed families that a staff member at the middle school had tested positive for the virus.

Detar said anyone who has been in close contact with the infected individual has been informed and instructed to follow mandatory quarantine-at-home protocols for two weeks.

The district reached out to the Allegheny County Health Department and reviewed the health and safety measures that have been put in place to ensure it is following through with the recommended protocols, according to Detar.

The protocols include having an infected individual stay isolated at home for at least two weeks until their symptoms have passed and they have been cleared as no longer positive.

The statement said if a child tests positive for the coronavirus, a parent or guardian must inform the school nurse or school administration as soon as possible and begin self-isolating immediately.

The district will continue to follow all health and safety protocols including social distancing, wearing masks, washing hands and regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently-used or shared spaces, items and surfaces.