After mid-winter break ended last week, Bothell High School (BHS) has learned about a portion of students and staff who have travelled internationally.

A staff member returned to work on Feb. 24 after travelling overseas. The following day, a family member who was vacationing with the school employee became sick. This individual is seeking treatment as well as being monitored and quarantined by hospital staff.

The sick family member is being tested for coronavirus, or COVID-19, although it can take 5-7 days for test results to come back.

BHS has been in contact with the State’s Department of Health, who relayed that staff and students are at minimal risk for COVID-19. They also stated that school closure is unnecessary.

Superintendent Michelle Reid made the decision to close the school out of an abundance of caution. Measures have been taken to clean and disinfect the entire school, particularly areas where the staff member had contact with.

Since January, there has been one confirmed case of coronavirus in Washington, and the patient has since made a full recovery. The Centers for Disease Control made a statement on Tuesday in which they relayed that COVID-19 is likely to spread to the U.S. in the next coming weeks.

BHS has been in communication with UW Department of Global Health faculty and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to learn how to combat any possible health emergencies.

At 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, the Department of Health held a media conference and stated that one man was quarantined, although they did not state whether he tested positive for coronavirus, or if he was linked to the BHS staff member.