Classes will continue at TCTC after positive coronavirus case

DEXTER — A person from the Tri-County Technical Center has tested positive for COVID-19, the superintendent said in a Wednesday, Nov. 4 letter to the community.

The person who tested positive was last at Tri-County Technical Center, which is on the Dexter Regional High School campus, on Friday, Oct. 30 said Kevin Jordan, the superintendent for SAD 46/AOS 94. Five students and one staff member are in quarantine, and will be contacted directly by Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention contact tracers and school personnel.

The school, which provides programming for students in six school districts across Penobscot, Piscataquis and Somerset counties, will continue to operate.

“I had been hoping against all hope but it’s made its way here,” Jordan said about the presence of COVID-19 during a regular SAD 46 school board meeting on Nov. 4 at the Ridge View Community School. “The fortunate piece is there’s only six people quarantining.”

When asked, he said the five students can learn remotely during quarantine if they are healthy enough to do so, and the staff member can work remotely.

Jordan explained in the letter that district officials were told of the positive test that morning and they have taken steps with the response team to follow Maine CDC and Department of Education guidelines to notify staff and students as appropriate.

“We believe it best to share what we can with our entire community,” he wrote. 

The letter included basic information about the illness, specifically that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 and older and in those with underlying health conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus.  

Signs and symptoms include fever/chills, new loss of taste/smell, cough, congestion/runny nose, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, nausea/vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, muscle/body aches, sore throat and headache.

Members of the SAD 46 community and beyond are asked to keep in mind that many things can cause respiratory illness, so students and staff should be up-to-date on influenza and routine vaccinations.

Jordan reminded the community that the Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to help control the spread of COVID-19. These include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, especially important after using the bathroom, before and after eating, after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. When soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.

The letter says general questions regarding COVID-19 can be answered by calling 1-866-811-5695, texting your zip code to 898-211, emailing info@211maine.org or by calling one’s primary care provider. Information is at www.maine/gov/dhhs/coronavirus and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus. 

Questions for the school can be directed to his office at 207-924-6000 option 2 or the three district school nurses: Angie Bunker for TCTC and the high school at 207-924-5536; and Crystal Greaves for Ridge View at 207-924-6000.