Dear Viers Mill Elementary School Community:

This letter is to inform you that we were notified of several individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) yesterday, December 19, and today, December 20.

Staff Member in our Preschool Education Program (PEP)

A staff member in PEP who was last present at Viers Mill Elementary School (VMES) on Friday, December 17 tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, December 19.  We were notified yesterday, December 19, of the positive test. 

Fourth Grade Student

A fourth grade student who was last present at VMES on Thursday, December 16 tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, December 18.  We were notified yesterday, December 19, of the positive test.

Student in PEP

A student in one of our PEP classes who was last present at VMES on Wednesday, December 1, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, December 17.  We were notified today, December 20, of the positive test.

Second Grade Student

A student in one of our second grade classes who was last present at VMES on Thursday, December 16 tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday, December 18.  We were notified today, December 20, of the positive test.

Following Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines, we notified individuals who were known to have close contact with this individual and have informed them to quarantine and monitor for symptoms, per CDC guidelines.  

Per current DHHS guidance and our contact tracing process, unless you are notified directly, your child does not need to quarantine as they were not in close contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19.  Please visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/contact-tracing/contact-tracing-plan/appendix.html#contact for additional information on how the CDC, MCPS and DHHS, defines and identifies close contacts. 

We encourage you to closely monitor your child for symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, headache, and shortness of breath. If your child develops any of these symptoms, do not send them to school. You should contact your healthcare provider and have your child tested for COVID-19. Please contact the school if your child develops COVID-19-like symptoms. Students who develop symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, will not be able to return to the building until they are medically cleared. 

Please visit  https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/coronavirus and https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/ for additional information on COVID-19 resources, including free COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 vaccination sites.  

We appreciate your cooperation as we work to maintain a safe and healthy school environment.