At least 3 Gwinnett County schools employees test positive for COVID-19 ahead of school start

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — At least three Gwinnett County Public Schools employees have tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the return to school, Channel 2 Action News has learned.

The district will not release information on whether the employees were teachers or staff or at which schools they worked.

Channel 2′s Tyisha Fernandes has learned that it was Nesbitt Elementary School in Tucker.

The district has asked anyone who came in contact with those employees to quarantine. It’s unclear how many employees have been affected.

"The majority of the employees who are in quarantine do not have the virus, but came in contact with someone who does," a school spokesperson said.

The school year starts August 12 in Gwinnett County and will be all virtual for students, but teachers are required to report to the actual school building.

Teachers started pre-planning and staff development on July 29.

[RELATED: COUNTY-BY-COUNTY: Plans for returning to school this fall]

"Teachers will report to their schools to deliver their digital lessons, participate in staff development, and collaborate with their fellow teachers to make digital instruction more effective for their students," the district's website says.

Officials said they would work with employees and make accommodations if needed.

Last week, teachers protested the requirement that they work from inside school buildings.

“We’re so excited we’re going 100% virtual, however, staff will be required to come to the building,” one teacher said. “So we are still fighting for the staff to have the option to work from home.”

[RELATED: Hundreds of parents, students and teachers protest Gwinnett schools’ decision for digital learning]

Officials said the district responds rapidly to any reported COVID-19 cases and that each school has a response team that has been trained on how to address a suspected case.

“If a teacher/staff member experiences the on-set of COVID-related symptoms while at school, they are to inform their local school administration and leave the building,” officials said.

Teachers rally as Gwinnett County Schools announce school will start virtually About a hundred teachers and other staff members who marched in the heat were very happy to hear students will be staying home, but now, they’re concerned about why they are still having to report to school buildings.

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