VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach City Public Schools said someone who was at Birdneck Elementary School last week tested positive for COVID-19.
Officials did not identify if this person was a student, parent or part of school staff and faculty, but they said the individual was inside the school building on September 22 and September 23.
They will not be allowed back inside until they're given approval by their healthcare provider. They're also under a self-quarantine which ends on October 7.
“I think it is going to happen,” said parent Allison Verbanic.
Verbanic’s daughter is in the online program at Thalia Elementary. She said she worries the division in rushing the in-person start.
“All the children haven’t gone back to school yet and so I can’t imagine what will happen exponentially when they are back in the building,” Verbanic said.
Other parents think they are right on schedule.
“We have one that is going tomorrow for kindergarten and his teacher is very hands-on,” said parent Frank Fernandez.
Fernandez said his son’s teachers helped his family get prepared for a safe return. He said cases will pop up.
“That’s been happening with almost any job, anywhere,” Fernandez said. “I have yet to really talk to anybody where their job hasn’t had at least one positive, false positive, or scare.”
Amber Mont’s son is in Birdneck’s online program. She said she didn’t get the case alert.
“I’m just a little disappointed that I had to find out through a Facebook mom group,” Mont said.
The division told 13News Now only families with students who were in the school last week were notified. A small group of students with disabilities started on September 22.
“Everyone says that it was fear, that you know, that parents are letting fear control us,” Mont said. “But it is not really fear, it's just... we have to think about our others.”
The Virginia Beach Department of Public Health believes the risk of transmission is low since this person was wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing.
The school division is working with VBDPH to alert those who may have been in close contact with this individual and could have a higher risk of catching the virus.