Coronavirus case prompts 94,000-student Fulton County (Ga.) district to close all schools

The Fulton County (Ga.) district has decided to close all of its more than 100 schools on Tuesday after a teacher was found to be infected with the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the closing has cancelled classes for the district's 94,000 students.

Superintendent Mike Looney says he worked closely with health authorities in deciding on the closure and will consider their advice when deciding whether to remain closed beyond Tuesday, a day when the schools will undergo a deep cleaning.

The affected teacher, whose identity was not disclosed, had contact with students at two middle schools in the county’s south side, 

The Fulton teacher has classes at both Bear Creek and Woodland middle schools. Those schools closed early Monday along with Creekside High, near Bear Creek, because the schools share staff and many families have students at both the middle and high schools.

The teacher felt ill Friday while at Bear Creek, and others at the school were concerned enough to call 911.

[MORE: YouTube video from Fulton County Schools:]

The announcement last week that Georgia had its first infections intensified the situation within area schools.

More Georgia cases were announced over the weekend. On Monday, Atlanta Public Schools banned all out-of-state field trips, telling would-be travelers to seek refunds or credits. DeKalb schools also canceled out-of-state travel. Atlanta’s field trips in Georgia are still permitted, but are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

KIPP Metro Atlanta posted Monday night on Twitter that it was closing its 10 schools, which serve 4,600 students, Tuesday because of coronavirus “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Fulton students will have the equivalent of a snow day. The district has an online learning protocol that will not be triggered unless students are out at least three days, Looney says.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says school closure is a strategy to prevent the spread of the virus.

“Temporarily dismissing childcare programs and K-12 schools is a strategy to stop or slow the further spread of COVID-19 in communities,” the agency’s interim guidance for schools says.

The agency urges school officials to consult with local health officials and to keep them apprised of any changes in student absenteeism. Spikes should be reported, since they could suggest a rise in the number of illnesses.