Fulton County Schools and South Fulton officials have announced additional closures and delays in response to a recent case of coronavirus at Bear Creek Middle School.
Fulton County Schools
All Fulton County schools will be closed on Wednesday, March 11, and all scheduled activities have been cancelled. However, central office employees and school-based employees, with the exception of Bear Creek Middle and Woodland Middle Schools, who work 210 through 235 days will report to their locations as usual on Wednesday, March 11.
All Fulton County schools, with the exception of Bear Creek Middle and Woodland Middle Schools, will reopen to all students and staff on Thursday, March 12.
Woodland Middle School reopen on Wednesday, March 18. Bear Creek Middle School will reopen on Monday, March 23. Specific details will be communicated with families.
Crews are cleaning and disinfecting every school and administrative building in Fulton County Schools. All frequently-touched hard surfaces are being wiped down with a hospital-grade disinfectant that is proven to kill bacteria and viruses. School buses are also being cleaned and disinfected and going forward drivers will use specialized wipes to disinfect seats after completing each morning and afternoon run.
Based upon all of this information, FCS has also decided to cancel all international travel.
City of South Fulton
Today, the City temporarily closed Fire Station 15 on Cedar Grove Road as a precaution after three firefighters from the station came into contact with the patient while responding to a call at Bear Creek Middle School. The proactive move was made to ensure the safety of those firefighters as well as residents.
A detailed cleaning of the station will be performed in the coming days, adhering to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The three firefighters are quarantined at home for the next three weeks as an additional precautionary measure. None came into direct contact with the patient and none has shown any signs or symptoms of the virus.
Out of an abundance of caution, city officials have also decided to close all recreation and arts centers until further notice.
“The health and safety of our citizens is our first priority,” said Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Director Tony Phillips. “We are following guidelines as it relates to the state’s health department and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to make sure we are providing the safest environment possible for our residents.”
South Fulton officials have prioritized funding for equipment and other resources needed to ensure safety. This includes 500 sets of personal protection equipment for firefighters, police officers and other staff. The city has also purchased vehicle decontamination supplies for city vehicles and increased sanitizing procedures at parks, recreation centers and all facilities.
The city will hold a special called meeting on Thursday, March 12 at 3 p.m. at City Hall to discuss coronavirus response.
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