Parks Staff Tests Positive For Coronavirus, Families Notified In Missoula

Missoula MT

10 October, 2020

11:27 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Missoula: October 9, 2020 Parks and Recreation regrets to announce that a staff member associated with a specific group within the Base Camp/afterschool program has tested positive for COVID-19. The staff member's exposure was limited to specific groups of participants on Oct. 5,6 and 7, and those families have been notified. If you have not received an email from Parks and Recreation, your child was not exposed. Participant and staff safety is our top priority, and the department is working closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department (MCCHD) to help identify potential close contacts to this positive COVID case. MCCHD will reach out to close contacts with more information and the next steps ASAP. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your health care provider or MCCHD at 258-INFO (4636.) Parks and Recreation COVID safety protocols require participants who've been in close contact with a positive case to quarantine from the program until they receive a negative COVID test, receive clearance from MCCHD, or complete a 14-day quarantine. The affected families have been notified of this policy via email. Participants are entitled to a full refund for Base Camp days missed due to quarantine. The CDC defines a close contact as anyone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes. An infected person can spread COVID-19 starting 48 hours (or 2 days) before the person had any symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. Parks and Recreation is currently conducting our internal incident safety review and following public health officials' guidance regarding staff quarantine, equipment cleaning, and additional training as needed. The City of Missoula thanks you for protecting our community by complying with COVID-19 public health orders and Parks and Recreation rules. We urge you to continue to take necessary precautions to limit coronavirus spread. Be proactive about reducing the number of interactions your family members have with others, practicing 6' physical distancing, and wearing face coverings when you can't physical distance. As always, wash your hands frequently, stay home if sick, and clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. If you any questions or concerns regarding COVID-19, please reach out directly to the Health Department at 406-258-INFO (4636.) For questions about the Base Camp program, please contact Recreation Manager Meg Whicher via email. This press release was produced by the City of Missoula. The views expressed here are the author's own.