Clover Park Tech closes Lakewood, South Hill campuses for cleaning; student under quarantine
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Update, March 5: Campuses are now reopen.
Clover Park Technical College has suspended Lakewood and South Hill campus operations for Wednesday (March 4) after reports of a student under quarantine with symptoms similar to coronavirus.
Its Communities in Schools breakfast will proceed as planned.
College President Joyce Loveday said in a statement: “We received word late in the afternoon on Tuesday that a student from the South Hill campus is under quarantine at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. The student presented symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 and has been tested for the virus. Those test results will not be known until later this week. The student visited the South Hill campus while symptomatic but has not been on the Lakewood campus.
“Out of an abundance of caution, college leadership made the decision to close both campuses in order to conduct a deep cleaning. Custodial staff have been asked to perform the cleaning of both campuses. Cleaners will follow CDC disinfecting protocols by using anti-viral chemicals that are EPA approved for COVID-19. They will disinfect all bathrooms, classrooms, labs, common areas, and offices, including touch points, such as flat surfaces, chairs, tabletops, knobs, handles, railings, buttons, and the legs and arms of furniture.”
Loveday added that “We will make a decision about campus operations for Thursday, March 5 at 3:00 p.m.”
On Tuesday, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said that the agency has approved testing for “a number” of patients. Healthcare providers order tests and the health department approves them if the case meets federal criteria.
No confirmed cases have yet been reported in Pierce County.
If worried you have contracted the virus, the health department director, Dr. Anthony Chen, told The News Tribune earlier this week that those who are ill are advised to call their primary care doctor and set up an appointment. Do not go to the emergency room unless essential, he said.
In a statement Wednesday, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department told The News Tribune: “We respect school districts’ desire to show extra caution to protect the health and safety of their students and staff. The Health Department and CDC do not recommend schools close when no known contact with a confirmed case exists.
“Currently, Pierce County has no confirmed cases. We continue to provide this and other guidance to schools in the county. Clover Park Technical College did not consult with us before deciding to close today.”
Also, in regard to the use of face mask, the health department is reiterating that “The CDC doesn’t recommend wearing a mask to protect yourself from COVID-19 unless a healthcare provider asks you to do so. If you’re sick and need to visit a healthcare organization, call ahead. Wear a mask if you go so you don’t potentially expose others.”
This story was originally published March 4, 2020 at 7:30 AM with the headline "Clover Park Tech closes Lakewood, South Hill campuses for cleaning; student under quarantine."
