District 64 has received notice of two more cases of positive tests for COVID-19, bringing the total to four in the district community.
The latest came from a family at Emerson Middle School. While only one parent tested positive, health care providers are proceeding as if all family members are positive, due to them all having the same symptoms. Members of the family first started experiencing symptoms on Sunday, March 15, and tested positively on Wednesday, March 25. The family is at home recovering and are doing well.
The second latest case is a staff member at Field Elementary School. This staff member had flu-like symptoms the week of March 9 - 13, was tested on March 19, and received the positive result on Thursday, March 26. She has been slowly getting better at home.
Superintendent Eric Olson reported on Thursday that the Roosevelt parent who was hospitalized with COVID-19 has been recovering nicely and is expected to return home in the next couple of days. The parent of the second Roosevelt family continues to recover at home as well.
Federal privacy laws prevent our administration from sharing the names of family members or providing any identifying information other than the school of attendance.
"The Cook County Health Deptartment has stated that we should treat everyone with whom we come into contact as a potential carrier, regardless of whether we were at an event where someone tested positively or not," Olson said in a letter to district staff and families on Thursday.
He encouraged families to continue following the CDC’s recommended guidelines and contact their doctor if you have the identified symptoms. The superintendent also asked families to help in stopping group activities in our parks. Both the Mayor’s office and the Park Ridge Police Department are expending resources to stop groups of adults and kids playing in parks.
"Please be aware of where your children are going if they leave your house, and help spread the word that social distancing is a proven method for reducing the spread of COVID-19. We need everyone working together in the best interests of the health of our community," he said.