A substitute teacher at Centaurus High School, who took a cruise in mid-February, reported Wednesday to the Boulder Valley School District that a small number of people who were on the ship have tested positive for coronavirus. The Boulder Valley School District subsequently reported the information to Boulder County Public Health.

Chana Goussetis, the spokesperson for the Boulder County Public Health department, said the man has not exhibited symptoms of the virus over the past 12 days and therefore does not meet criteria for testing. Symptoms after exposure could appear between two and 14 days, according to Goussetis. As of Wednesday night, there were no confirmed coronavirus cases in Colorado. The man was notified by the cruiseline the same day of his report to the school principal.

“We are working with the district,” Goussetis said. “Fortunately this person has not had symptoms for the last 12 days, so they don’t meet testing criteria. The school district has them staying home, but we don’t feel there is any risk.”

The Boulder Valley School District released a statement on its Facebook page Wednesday. The man had been teaching at the Lafayette school, 10300 W. South Boulder Road, for the last five days and was sent home, where he will remain until the 14-day exposure window has passed.

“Based on what we know about this disease to date, it is extremely unlikely that someone would transmit the virus without having symptoms,” the district’s post read. “While we do not believe there is a significant risk of our students getting sick, we are dedicated to doing everything possible to protect our students and to keep you informed.”

Boulder Valley spokeswoman Carolyn Nohe echoed this, noting the Centers for Disease Control isn’t recommending that those potentially exposed but not showing symptoms stay home. But the district set the requirement that he not to return to work until after the exposure period “out of a lot of caution.”

Nohe added the district notified families out of a desire to be transparent.

Carol Helwig, Boulder County Public Health’s communicable disease control epidemiologist, said the Colorado Department of Public Health does not allow testing on those who have not exhibited symptoms, which includes fever and signs of a respiratory illness.

“Although some people may spread disease before they show symptoms, people who do not develop any symptoms at all don’t spread illness,” Helwig said. “Keeping the individual home for 14 days after exposure is the appropriate prevention measure. If symptoms do develop in that time frame, then we can approve testing. Otherwise testing is not necessary.”

Boulder County Public Health listed precautionary steps and testing criteria for the virus on its website.

Goussetis said the teacher and district responded appropriately to the situation. She emphasized the county has issued simple health guidelines to follow and minimize the potential spread of illness.

“I think the important part of the message is really that people need to stay home if they are sick and we need to be practicing all the recommendations that we have been talking about: washing hands often, don’t touch your face and not shaking hands with folks,” Goussetis said.

Approximately 1,400 students are enrolled at Centaurus High School, according to an Oct. 1 count.

The district said it would continue to monitor the situation. Anyone with questions or concerns is encouraged to call CO-Help at 303-389-1687 or 1-877-462-2911 or email COHELP@RMPDC.org, for answers in English and Spanish.