Anyone who was at Mexico Middle School on the final two days of classes should stay home and get in touch with a medical provider because of potential contact with a teacher infected with the novel coronavirus, officials said Saturday.

The infected teacher, a resident of Callaway County, was last at the school on March 19, the day classes ended for what will be an extended spring break because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The teacher was possibly symptomatic in the two days prior the district closure, which is currently scheduled to end April 13. The teacher is under quarantine at home.

No major increase in testing has occurred in the county since the potential exposure. As of Monday afternoon, there are four test results still pending from 10 tests. The other six tests came back negative.

When the Audrain County Health Department and the school district found out about the positive test from Callaway County, at least nine days already had passed, health department Administrator Sandra Hewlett said.

“If people had been symptomatic, they would have been seeing their doctors or calling the emergency room. We have not seen any of that,” she said.

The district exercised extreme caution during the last few days of school and certain safety practices were implemented, district spokesperson Marci Minor wrote in an email to parents, which included a notice about the the case from the health department.

The week of March 16, students put all learning materials in their book bags, rather than storing in lockers to limit hard surface contacts throughout the school day, according to an email from middle school principal Deb Haag. Students also ate lunches in classrooms rather than in the cafeteria.

“Surfaces are being cleaned throughout the day. Germ-X is available and we are encouraging hand washing,” Haag wrote in the March 16 email to parents.

The risk of student and other staff member exposure was low, Hewlett said.

The middle school used staggered passing periods to limit the number of students in the hallways from March 16-19. Students also had temperatures taken if they felt unwell. Staff members were told to not report to work if they did not feel well. Those who came to work but later felt ill or were concerned about illness while at school reported to the school nurse for an evaluation, Minor said in an email.

The health department hasn’t seen an increased call volume despite Saturday’s announcement, Hewlett said. The No. 1 question the district has received relates to which class was taught by the teacher. The district has collaborated with the health department since it learned of the positive case, Minor wrote in a statement.

“I think most parents realized it had been nine, 10 days,” Hewlett said.

Those who were at Mexico Middle School in the days before the closure are encouraged by the health department to remain at home until they have spoken with their health care provider.

Hewlett is bolstered by how county residents have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is thankful people are adhering to social distancing and hygiene guidelines.

“I could not be prouder to be part of a county than I am right now with Audrain,” she said.

Callaway County had 13 confirmed cases, according to data posted Monday afternoon by the state Department of Health and Senior Services. There were 1,031 confirmed cases statewide of the virus that causes the COVID-19 disease.

Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, coughing, sneezing and/or shortness of breath. Those with symptoms should call their health care provider so it can be determined if further testing is needed. Those with symptoms that meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria will be tested for the coronavirus.

Anyone who thinks they may have the coronavirus should call an emergency room or doctor’s office so preparations can be made to receive them. Those without a health care provider can call SSM Health at 1-844-776-9355. Those who call should follow health care provider recommendations.

SSM also offers a free online evaluation to see if further testing for the coronavirus is needed. You do not have to be an SSM patient to use the evaluation tool.

Drive-through testing is available in Columbia and Jefferson City. Doctor’s orders are needed to be able to take a test at a drive-through facility.

SSM has a drive-through testing center at its Jefferson City hospital. Testing is located at the Health Plaza East entrance, 2505 Mission Drive. The site is open from 11 a.m.to 4 p.m., though hours may vary depending on volume.

University of Missouri Health Care’s drive-through testing site is at the MU softball stadium parking lot 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. MU also has an online screening tool through MU Video Visits. Patients should select the “COVID-19 video visit” option.

Boone Hospital is offering drive-through visits 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday south of the hospital’s Emergency Department entrance.

Capitol Region Medical Center in Jefferson City is testing from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the south side of Capital Region Physicians — Primary Care Clinic, at 1014 Madison Street.

Further information is available through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Serivces COVID-19 hotline at 1-877-435-8411. Information also is available on the DHSS website or through the CDC. The Audrain County Health Department can be reached at 573-581-1332 and at 573-353-5410 on weekends.

The health department recommends all Audrain County residents follow CDC hygiene guidelines to prevent the virus’ spread. This includes:

• Avoiding contact with people who are sick.
• Covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
• Frequent handwashing for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose with unwashed hands.
• Disinfect frequently used objects and surfaces.
• Staying home when sick and avoiding travel to affected areas.
• Practicing social distancing (remaining at least six feet away from others) is key to preventing spread of this virus both to yourself and to others.

All of the The Mexico Ledger’s coronavirus coverage is being provided free to our readers. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to The Mexico Ledger at https://www.mexicoledger.com/subscribenow. Help keep local businesses afloat at supportlocal.usatoday.com.