Thales Academy keeps school open, cleans facilities after visiting staff member is COVID-19 positive

Thales Academy did a deep cleaning of its facilities Thursday night after a staff member from Tennessee who visited the Thales Academy in Raleigh tested positive for COVID-19.

School is resuming as normal on Friday morning after the deep-cleaning.

The school believes that the staff member had contact with at least 16 students. The teacher visited the Raleigh location on Monday.

School officials said the teacher did not show symptom of the virus and passed temperatures before entering the building. The teacher wore a mask while visiting.

The school said that staff member had contact with at least 16 students and a teacher. The staff member is now in quarantine.

Some parents feel as if the academy should now switch to virtual learning after the positive coronavirus test, while others believe that the school should stay open.

Late Thursday evening, the school released a statement to its families:

"On Monday, July 20th, Thales Raleigh had a staff member in training on campus. We have been notified today that this staff member in training has tested positive for COVID-19.

"Please be assured, all safety protocols were and continue to be followed including health screenings and masks for our teaching staff. The staff member in training was asymptomatic throughout her time on campus, passed the temperature check, wore a mask throughout her visit, and was an observer in the classroom.

"We share all of these details in an effort to be as transparent as possible.

"Students that were in the affected classroom will be contacted directly.

"As noted in our protocols, there are frequent cleanings throughout the day. However, our facilities team has been notified and will complete an additional sanitation of the building tonight. A Clorox Total 360 machine will be used to disinfect the building."