Visitation and St. Thomas Academy will be closed on Friday too.

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St. Thomas Academy and Visitation in Mendota Heights have been closed after a parent tested positive for COVID-19.

The private schools have notified parents that they will be closed on Thursday and Friday following the confirmed case. Spring break is scheduled to take place next week.

It comes after St. Thomas Academy's principal said a "parent in our community" was diagnosed with the coronavirus.

St. Thomas Academy told BMTN that the parent is NOT one of the 5 cases of COVID-19 already confirmed in Minnesota, with the Department of Health expected to release more details later.

"The Department has informed us that this situation is one of very low risk," St. Thomas Academy told BMTN. "We cannot reveal any further details about the individual for confidentiality reasons."

"While we have been thoroughly cleaning our facilities for several weeks, out of an abundance of caution, we have canceled school and activities today, Thursday, March 12, while we conduct a deep clean according to the CDC’s guidelines."

St. Thomas Academy was among the teams involved in last week's state hockey tournament at the Xcel Energy Center. At this stage it's not known if the parent or their child/children were in attendance.

"Saint Thomas academy learned tonight that a parent in our community has tested positive for COVID-19," the school's principal, Rear Admiral John E. Crowley, wrote in an earlier release.

"While this individual has not been on campus, we are working with the family to gather more information. We are also working with the local health agencies to determine the appropriate course of action."

In a letter to parents, St. Thomas Academy said that the decision was also taken to close Visitation because "our two schools share students and resources."

St. Thomas Academy is a Catholic all-boys military high school, while Visitation is Catholic college prep all-girls private school.