MOORE, Okla. (NewsNation/KFOR) — An Oklahoma high school student, who went to school despite knowing they had coronavirus, said they were under the assumption that it was okay to come to school since they were asymptomatic.
Moore Public School officials said that they were made aware that the student had coronavirus on the first day of classes by an anonymous tip.
When officials contacted the student, the student told them “they were under the understanding that since they were asymptomatic, that they did not need to quarantine for the full 14-day-period.”
Dawn Jones, Moore Public School’s Public Information Officer said when the student’s parents were asked, they said they had miscalculated the end of their child’s quarantine.
A student at Moore High School also tested positive for the coronavirus, along with a high school coach, who tested positive before school began and is still quarantining.
Jones said 22 other students came in close contact with the two students who tested positive and are now quarantining for 14 days.
School nurses performed contact tracing to identify students and staff who were potentially exposed to the virus through close contact. Those students and staff members who were found to have had close contact with the student have already been notified, Moore Public Schools said in a letter to parents.
“We will do absolutely everything within our power to safeguard and protect our students and our staff,” said Jones.
Jones said both high schools will undergo deep cleaning over the weekend and school will resume as normal on Monday.