FULTON COUNTY, Ga. — A Fulton County school teacher says she’s concerned the district isn’t being transparent enough when it comes to reporting COVID-19 cases to students, parents and other teachers when they’ve been exposed to a positive case.
The teacher, who asked Channel 2′s Mike Petchenik not to identify her, said she believes she contracted the virus at a family gathering, but didn’t learn she had it until more than a week later.
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“I went to an indoor gathering to plan for the funeral session,” she said. “And two people that were at that gathering tested positive.”
After her husband began to exhibit symptoms, she said she quarantined and got tested, then notified her school.
“They’re not going to tell my class. So my students are still, they’re still emailing me, they don’t know I have COVID,” she said. “They don’t know I tested positive. So they’re not going to tell my students, and they’re not going to tell my colleagues, ‘Hey, were you in contact with teacher x.’”
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The teacher said she was in the building for the entire week after her believed exposure so she’s concerned about those she was around at the time.
“They’ve all sat in the room with me and then gone to other teacher’s classes, and these teachers might have underlying concerns,” she said. “It might be life-threatening for them. But you don’t want to tell them and you want to keep confidentiality.”
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Petchenik reached out to the school system and they sent him a statement about the allegations:
“Our response to positive cases has been consistent. When a positive report is received (staff or student), the case is investigated, and reported to public health. In consultation with public health, the Health Services Team provides guidance to the individual/family based on public heath guidance. Notifications and/or letters regarding positive cases are shared with the appropriate individuals following the case investigation and contact tracing. Additionally, to ensure transparency data is shared twice a week on the district’s website to keep staff and parents abreast of case activity. The district encourages staff and parents to report COVID-19 related incidents which has been shared on our website and in messaging to school communities.”
