Staff member at Chugiak High School tests positive for COVID-19

Anchorage School District employees learned Monday afternoon that a staff member who works at Chugiak High School has tested positive for COVID-19. The employee also lives with someone who works at King Tech High School in Anchorage, the district said.

Anyone who reported to work today at either Chugiak High or King Tech was asked to leave the buildings and everyone who was inside either building within the last week has been asked to self-isolate while the buildings are decontaminated, according to the district.

Additionally, anyone who may have come in direct contact with the staff member has already been notified and is required to quarantine for 14 days, the district said.

At an evening news conference on Monday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the number of known coronavirus cases in Alaska had grown to 36, up four cases from the last announcement on Sunday. By Monday, 17 of those cases were in Anchorage.

Last week, Anchorage Schools Superintendent Deena Bishop instructed supervisors to send all non-essential staff home, asking them to telecommute.

All schools in the Anchorage School District have been closed since March 6 when students and staff went on spring break. The district initially closed schools for two weeks for an “extended spring break.” Then, Dunleavy closed all schools statewide until May 1.

Catch up on the latest news about the coronavirus in Alaska.

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