Pasadena grab-and-go meal program suspended due to potential coronavirus case

The grab-and-go meal program for Pasadena Unified School District students will be suspended starting Monday due to a potential case of the coronavirus.

Officials with the district said that they received a report that a kitchen employee was possibly diagnosed with COVID-19.

The grab-and-go meal service, that was being provided at seven of the district's school sites, will be suspended until at least later this week.

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"The health and safety of our students and staff is our first priority. When we learn of a suspected case in our operations, we follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines, inform other staff who may have come into close contact with the staff member, and consult with the local health department to determine appropriate measures," Superintendent Brian McDonald said in a statement.

"We know that this may cause hardship to our families and are working with neighboring school districts to provide meals to PUSD students," he continued.

McDonald said that the coronavirus diagnosis was not confirmed. However, he said that the district is carrying out "extensive cleaning and sanitizing of our kitchens and facilities to minimize any risk of surface transmission."

The district says that once the kitchens and facilities have been sanitized, they will reopen to provide students with meals while schools are closed to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

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