Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – Shelby County Schools sent an email to the Oak Mountain community on Monday afternoon, March 16, letting them know that a parent had contacted them to say one of the students had a confirmed case of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

“While it is unknown when this student contracted the virus, this family was advised by the ADPH to contact everyone that the student has had contact with over the last two weeks,” read a release from Shelby County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lewis Brooks. “Therefore, out of our responsibility to you and your family, we are sending this notification to inform you that students attending Oak Mountain Intermediate School and Oak Mountain Elementary School may have been exposed to COVID-19 through contact with this student.”

The release went on to encourage those who attend both schools to monitor themselves and family for fever, cough, body aches and shortness of breath.

If you should develop one or more of those symptoms, you’re urged to call your doctor or urgent care for guidance. If shortness of breath is severe, you’re encouraged to seek emergency treatment via an emergency department, but should call ahead, or you can call 911 where you should make them aware of your exposure.

Church of the Highlands Grandview campus off of U.S. 280 in the northern area of Shelby County will be doing drive-thru testing starting Tuesday, March 17 as well.

If any other students were to have a confirmed case, you should email tdaly@shelbyed.org or call 205-682-6552 and leave a message.

Shelby County School urges everyone to continue practicing social distancing by remaining at home with your family unless it is for work or obtaining essential items like food and medicine.

It is also encouraged to practice good hand washing and respiratory etiquette for coughs and sneezes.

“As we look ahead to the date when students will resume attending classes at the five Oak Mountain community schools, we have already begun the process of contracting with a professional cleaning company to have each of those schools cleaned and disinfected before students return back to school on April 6,” the statement from Brooks read.

For more information on COVID-19 and safety precautions visit Cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html or the Alabama Department of Health at Alabamapublichealth.gov/infectiousdiseases/2019-coronavirus.html

“We encourage you to educate yourselves on what you can do to protect yourself and your family,” read the release. “Please know that we have only your safety and well-being at heart and will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed on our website.”