Employee at Richland elementary school tests positive for coronavirus, parents told

An employee of Badger Mountain Elementary School in Richland has tested positive for the novel coronavirus, parents were told Monday afternoon.

The Richland School District is not providing further information about the employee, including their job, citing medical privacy laws.

The district is providing the names of student and staff who may have an exposure risk from the employee to the Benton-Franklin Health District.

Health officials may contact some people, the district said.

Only people who were in close contact with the infected employee — within six feet for at least 10 minutes — are considered to have an increased risk, according to the school district.

The district closed schools on March 13, but some students returned to classrooms last week to pick up items.

Some staffers delivered lunches to students offsite.

The period of time when the employee who tested positive may have been infectious, including before developing any symptoms, has not been made public.

The school is in south Richland at 1515 Elementary St.

People who think they may have been exposed should watch for possible symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, cough and shortness of breath.