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Osceola classes to resume after Tuesday's closure due to coronavirus

Health officials and the school district said they decided it was best to close for cleaning to make the school as safe as possible for students.

OSCEOLA, Wis. — Classes will resume Wednesday in Osceola, Wisconsin.

According to a statement posted on the Osceola School District's website, the district and the Polk County Health Department, in collaboration with local, state and federal officials, have determined that classes will resume Wednesday after classes were canceled Tuesday due to coronavirus.

The Osceola School District canceled classes Tuesday because an individual, who tested positive for coronavirus, attended the Destination Imagination event at Osceola High School on Saturday, March 7.

Health officials and the school district said they decided it was best to close for cleaning to make the school as safe as possible for students.

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"Based on guidance from the CDC, state health department and Polk County Health Department, students, parents and staff who participated in the Destination Imagination event are considered to be low risk for COVID-19," said the Polk County Health Department and the Osceola School District in a joint statement on Tuesday. "This assessment is based on the symptoms the individual experienced at the time and the activities the individual engaged in while at the event. The individual was not coughing at the event, nor did the individual have any prolonged conversations with anyone but the individual’s family."

According to Polk County Public Health, officials don't believe it has spread throughout the community. 

"The School District of Osceola decided to close because the areas where the individual visited in the schools were large rooms that required time to disinfect," the statement said. "At this time no Osceola Staff member or student is identified as infected with COVID-19. We will keep the community apprised as we monitor the situation."

"The recommendations for low-risk individuals are to self-monitor for fever and symptoms and to self-isolate and contact their local health department and their provider if symptoms appear. There is no recommendation for self-isolation if there are no symptoms.  Children who attended this event may continue to attend school as long as they do not develop symptoms. Anyone considered to be more than low risk would be contacted individually by their public health department for further assessment."

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed three cases of the coronavirus within the state.

KARE 11’s coverage of the coronavirus is rooted in Facts, not Fear. Visit kare11.com/coronavirus for comprehensive coverage, find out what you need to know about the Midwest specifically, learn more about the symptoms, and keep tabs on the cases around the world here. Have a question? Text it to us at 763-797-7215.

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