A Henderson County Public Schools employee said Tuesday to have tested positive for COVID-19 is an employee at North Henderson High.

The employee was not involved in the distribution of meals or educational materials before becoming symptomatic, HCPS officials said today.

As soon as the employee felt unwell, they followed public health recommendations to go home and self-isolate while awaiting their COVID-19 test results, HCPS said in a statement.

North Henderson High staff received additional, specific Health Department communication through their school administrator, notifying them of their possible exposure.

As part of the investigative process, local public health officials worked directly with school administrators to identify any other potential close contacts, which would include visitors to the school in question during a specific period of time determined by health officials.

Health officials told HCPS staff today that they have completed their contact tracing for those who would be considered "close contacts."

A “close contact” as defined by the CDC is anyone coming within approximately 6 feet of a COVID-19 case for a prolonged period of time, or having direct contact with infectious secretions of a COVID-19 case, such as a cough.

Several of the concerns raised by individuals are “general proximity” concerns, which health officials tell us present no more risk these days than one might experience with a visit to the grocery store, HCPS said.