School district nutrition-services employee tests positive for COVID-19
From Staff Reports
The Darlington County School District has been taking extra precautions with its food-service program after a nutrition-services employee tested positive for COVID-19, officials said.
Because the district has alternating teams who prepare and deliver food to sites around the county, the employee had not worked since April 8, the district said last week in a news release.
The food-preparation team and bus-driver delivery team that worked with the employee were notified and asked to self-quarantine. The 14-day quarantine period expired April 22, and the district has had no additional cases reported.
The food-service program – serving students who relied on meals at school — had been closed for Spring Break. Before reopening last Monday, all working spaces were deep cleaned and disinfected before workers returned.
Nurses have been at all workstations to check the temperatures of nutrition workers and bus drivers. The district continues to provide personal protective equipment to the nurses, bus drivers and nutrition workers.
The school district has provided breakfast, lunch and a snack for five days every week to more than 3,700 students. The food is prepackaged and individually wrapped.
“In Darlington County School District, the well-being of our people and our students is our greatest concern. This is especially true in these uncertain times,” said Tim Newman, county education superintendent.
“I am praying for the well-being of our sick employee. And we are taking all precautions to protect our other employees. Our employees are working hard on the front line to ensure our students have food. We are incredibly grateful for their efforts.”
“Our children need the food provided by these teams of nutrition workers and bus drivers,” said Newman. “They are our heroes. Without their efforts, thousands of children in our community would go hungry every day. They truly are essential to the well-being of our community.”