The Durham Public Schools will end its food-distribution program after an employee who helped pass out meals for children during the pandemic tested positive for COVID-19.

The employee worked at the Bethesda Elementary School site, which has been producing 400 to 500 meals for distribution sites and passing out about 100 meals directly, according to a DPS news release Thursday afternoon. All the meals are eaten off-site, a spokeswoman said.

The employee was not involved in preparing the food and did not come to work after taking the test, the release stated. DPS learned of the test results late Wednesday night, it stated.

The employee’s temperature was regularly monitored and was normal while working.

Employees who worked at the Bethesda site were sent home and told to contact the Durham County Health Department.

On Thursday night, DPS also announced it will distribute its last meals Monday, April 6, “due to the continued spread of COVID-19, the desire to keep our staff safe and well, and the expansion of other food assistance programs serving North Carolina families,” according to a second news release.

Meal delivery will go on as scheduled Friday to more than 67 school and community sites listed on the DPS website. On Monday, DPS will distribute a week’s worth of children’s lunches to these locations:

• Bethesda Elementary
• R.N. Harris Elementary
• Shepard Middle School
• Githens Middle
• Southwest Elementary
• Lakewood Middle
• Eno Valley Elementary
• Eastway Elementary
• Glenn Elementary
• Sandy Ridge Elementary
• Hillandale Elementary
• Club Blvd Elementary School
• Southern High School

Other food programs available

DPS started the feeding program March 23.

In its first week, it provided 27,857 lunches and 27,854 snacks for a total of 55,711 meals at 81 sites, the release stated.

The state Department of Health and Human Services has increased benefits to current Food and Nutrition Services recipients through April, according to the news release.

Families can also find three drive-thru or pick-up meal sites through No Kid Hungry North Carolina by texting FOODNC to 877-877, the release stated. The DPS Foundation has also worked with other local partners and restaurants to provide family meals.

DPS staff will distribute instructional material to support learning at home at all 53 school sites on Tuesday, April 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m.

Employee health now the focus

In a statement, Superintendent Pascal Mubenga thanked the more than 400 full or part-time DPS employees who helped to distribute the food in some way.

“We now need to focus on the health and wellness of our employees,” he stated.

Due to state legislation for emergency leave, eligible staff whose workload have been eliminated or reduced will continue to be fully paid through the end of April, the release stated.

The Lexington City Schools overhauled its food delivery program after a worker tested positive for the coronavirus, that district announced Wednesday, The Charlotte Observer reported.

This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 1:47 PM.