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DOE staffer with COVID-19 visited 3 Maui schools; no closures planned

A Department of Education employee who visited three elementary schools on Maui has tested positive for COVID-19, but no cases have been identified on the campuses and the schools remain open.

The staffer works in the Maui District Office and visited Pu‘u Kukui, Pomaika‘i and Kula elementary schools between Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, spending time in just one classroom at each school, according to the Department of Education.

Colleagues at the district office as well as staff and parents of students who may have been in contact with the individual have been notified. In addition, the Department of Education informed all staff and families at the three campuses of the situation Saturday.

“There are no positive cases at any of the school sites,” the department said in an announcement. “The impacted school campuses are taking precautions to ensure the safety of staff and students, including closing impacted areas or arranging for disinfection and working closely with HIDOE’s COVID-19 Response Team. No school closures are necessary.”

The individual was last at work on Tuesday.

“While it is not standard practice for HIDOE to publicly disclose individual cases, broader notification is made under certain situations, including when multiple campuses are impacted by a single case,” the department said.

Anyone visiting a school should do a wellness check before arriving on campus and those with any symptoms or who are in quarantine should stay home. The wellness check is available online.

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