Murrieta Valley High School closed after employee tested for coronavirus

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MURRIETA, Calif. - Murrieta Valley Unified School District officials announced Friday the closure of one of its schools out of an abundance of caution after learning that an employee was sick and being tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).

Murrieta Valley High School will be closed Monday, March 9 and will remain closed until testing of the employee is complete. The campus will be disinfected during the closure, school officials said.

"The health and safety of our students is our first concern. This decision was made is to ensure their health," said Murrieta Valley Unified School District Superintendent Pat Kelley.

Officials say the ill employee recently traveled to a country with a known coronavirus outbreak.

Public Health officials issued exclusion orders to 71 students instructing them to self-quarantine. These students may have come into contact with the sick individual.

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"While I want to reassure the students, families and staff at MVHS that the risk of transmission is low, I support the school district’s decision to temporarily close the school until testing is complete," said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County public health officer.

Murrieta Valley High School parents can call 951-304-1795 for more information about school district actions.

Coronavirus is generally transmitted through close contact with a sick person. The virus can be spread on surfaces through coughs and sneezes. It’s critical that anyone who is sick, stays home. Public health officials urge the community to cover coughs and sneezes, wash hands frequently and keep a distance from others who are sick.

For more information on the coronavirus, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html.