Durham temporarily closes a remote learning center after a positive COVID-19 test

Information was updated at 5:40 p.m., Sept. 1 to say that the test was a “probable positive.”

An employee at W.G. Pearson Elementary School in Durham has had a probable positive test for COVID-19, forcing the building to close for two days next week.

Pearson Elementary is the site of one of the Learning Centers that Durham Public Schools established for elementary schools students to learn remotely. The elementary school Learning Centers have been open for five days.

The school will be closed until Wednesday, Sept. 2, to allow time for contact tracing, according to a news release from the school district.

The district and the county health department are identifying people who may have come into close contact with the employee, the news release says. The heath department will contact students’ parents or guardians and adults who were in close contact with the employee for advice on self-isolating or getting a coronavirus test.

All employees, students and visitors are screened for symptoms before entering Learning Centers and wear face coverings inside, the news release said.

Durham Public Schools set up Learning Centers at three elementary schools for students to learn remotely with adult supervision. Three middle school buildings are set to open Monday as Learning Centers for middle and high school students.

This story was originally published August 28, 2020 at 6:53 PM.