LAUSD employee diagnosed with coronavirus; second case possible
LOS ANGELES, CA JANUARY 15: Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner, right, flanked by Board President Monica Garcia addresses the media at LAUSD headquarters on Tuesday January 15, 2019 the second day of the United Teachers Los Angeles str
LOS ANGELES - A Los Angeles Unified School District employee has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, and there is a "possible second occurrence" that has not yet been confirmed by health authorities, according to a district-wide memo sent today by Superintendent Austin Beutner.
"Unfortunately, as the virus spreads throughout the communities we serve, these are not likely to be the only employees who are diagnosed with the virus," Beutner wrote. "Federal law does not allow LA Unified to share the identity of any individual patient, nor are any employees required to inform LA Unified if they have the virus. When we have verifiable information, we will do our best to notify those who may have come in contact with anyone who is diagnosed so they can take appropriate actions."
RELATED: CoronavirusNOW.com, FOX launches national hub for COVID-19 news and updates.
What is coronavirus?
From how it spreads to where it originated, here's a look at everything you need to know about the deadly contagion.
In his memo, Beutner wrote that one of the affected employees was diagnosed with COVID-19 by a health care provider, but has not yet been formally tested due to "unavailability of the test." The employee worked on the 28th floor of the LAUSD's Beaudry Avenue downtown headquarters on March 13, Beutner wrote.
Several people who may have been exposed at the Beaudry building subsequently met with a member of the district's contract administration staff on the second floor of the LAUSD's Pico Rivera Office on March 19.
"Based on guidance from the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, anyone who works on the 28th floor at Beaudry or in contract administration on the second floor Pico Riveral Office should work from home in a self-quarantine capacity through April 3rd," Beutner wrote.
Get breaking news alerts in the FOX 11 News app. Download for iOS or Android.