PoSa's infectious disease authorities received information on Friday evening, August 13.8, about corona infections in the schools in Keskusta and Pohjanlinna. The cases in the schools are related to the same infection chain. The infections did not originate from the school. The two infected students from both schools were at school during the infectious period on Wednesday, August 11.8 and Thursday, August 12.8. Students and teachers in two classes are considered exposed.
Teachers have called the homes of all those who have been exposed and informed students and guardians. Contact tracing is ongoing and those who have been exposed are currently being contacted. The number of those exposed will be confirmed tomorrow.
All those exposed will be quarantined for 10 days from the date of exposure on August 11.8. Contact tracers will contact those exposed today or tomorrow at the latest. All those quarantined will be tested twice: the first sample tomorrow and the second sample on the 6th-7th day after exposure.
The school will provide distance learning for students who have been quarantined. For other students and staff, school work will continue as normal, but the test will be administered with a low threshold. Mask use is widely recommended, safety distances are maintained, groups are kept separate, hygiene instructions are strictly followed, and cleaning is intensified.
The quarantine does not apply to the family members of the exposed person and they are allowed to move around normally. If the person ordered to quarantine becomes ill, they must be taken for a test and in that case the family members must wait at home for the test results.
The usual incubation period for coronavirus infection is around 4–5 days, but it varies between 1–14 days. If someone has even mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fever, loss of smell or taste, or in some cases diarrhea, it is important to get tested without delay.
PoSa will provide more information on the matter on Monday, August 16.8, when the results of the first samples are available.
Kankaanpää 14.8.21