Mauldin Elementary School sent a message to parents Monday notifying them that two students were asked to stay home after possible exposure to the novel coronavirus.

Tim Waller, a spokesperson for Greenville County Schools, said the decision was made when a parent called yesterday to inform the school that the students' father works in a plant and had been in contact with the computer of a person who tested positive for coronavirus.

The students and the parents do not have symptoms of coronavirus, Waller said, but the district asked them to stay home for a few days out of "an abundance of caution."

Waller said the students will be allowed to return to school when the father returns to work, which could be in a few days.

Waller said all schools in the district have been disinfected more than usual since cases of coronaviruses have been identified in the Southeast, but the principal of Mauldin Elementary brought in an additional disinfecting crew Sunday.

"This is a prime example of everybody playing it safe," Waller said.

Greenville County Schools also sent a message out to all students, teachers and parents on Monday saying they should stay home and contact a principal if anyone in the household has been asked to self-quarantine over coronavirus concerns.

Ariel Gilreath is a watchdog reporter focusing on education and family issues with The Greenville News and Independent Mail. Contact her at agilreath@gannett.com and on Twitter @ArielGilreath.