A Kansas City Public Schools employee is hospitalized with coronavirus
An employee of Kansas City Public Schools has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the district reported Monday.
“This is the first and, so far, only confirmed case among our approximately 2,400 staff members,” officials said. The employee is being treated at an area hospital and “is recovering well,” officials said.
The name of the employee and position in the district was not released. Officials said that the employee “never entered entered any of our schools or other buildings upon having symptoms.”
“On behalf of every member of Team KCPS, I want to express our full support for our teammate who is being treated,” Superintendent Mark Bedell said. “We will provide any help needed to ensure our employee’s ongoing recovery. This is an unprecedented situation.”
Health officials as of Monday were reporting 106 cases of COVID-19 in Missouri and 64 in Kansas.
KCPS schools have been closed since March 13, when students went on spring break and have not reopened. Teachers began distance instruction either online or through packets of materials sent home with students.
This weekend, after Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced a stay at home order for the most of the metropolitan area beginning Tuesday, schools on the Missouri side announced they would remain closed until April 27, but that may change.
Last week Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly ordered all school buildings in the state to shut down for the remainder of the academic year.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 10:21 AM.
