People Who Had Contact With Arlington Coronavirus Patients Told To Self-Quarantine
ARLINGTON (CBS) -- About 30 people were identified as someone who came in contact with an Arlington student and parent who have tested presumptive positive for coronavirus. They have already been told to self-quarantine for 14 days.
"We have developed circles around individuals that came into contact with those two people," Arlington's Health and Human Service Director Christine Bongiorno said.
According to the Arlington Health Department, the child received a presumptive positive test result for COVID-19 Monday night. Their parent, who attended a Biogen conference in Boston that has been linked to several other cases, tested positive first. The entire family of four is under self-quarantine.
The child attends Stratton Elementary School in Arlington. The school was back open Tuesday after it was closed for cleaning Monday.
"Our procedure on controlling the spread is the same no matter what age," said Bongiorno. "I think the important piece is these individuals are doing quite well, they are young and healthy people. So they're recovering. They probably wouldn't have even been tested had they not been exposed to the Biogen case."
Parent Robin Yukiko said, "I know that everyone is taking every precaution. But of course, there is the fear of the unknown, you know, 'who did we high-five with last week?' That kind of thing."
Grandfather Bill Belanger said, "I'm not concerned about the kids. I'm not concerned about young adults. I'm only concerned about the older people."
A virus hotline in Arlington has taken well over 100 calls.
Another Arlington parent who was tested for COVID-19 after attending the Biogen event has tested negative for the illness. Officials are optimistic about their child, whose test remains pending. That family remains in self-quarantine until that test result is received.
