CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The Virgin Islands Department of Health confirmed today that a parent who attended the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) hybrid graduation ceremony has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to health officials, the parent’s exposure period began prior to their attendance at the May 21 ceremony on the CAHS campus; the infection did not originate at the graduation, the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) said.
The school’s 222 graduates and their parents were separated into cohorts that were housed in three locations on the campus until their scheduled procession to an outdoor stage where students would receive their diploma and be greeted by dignitaries, the Department of Education said.
Safety protocols were strictly enforced throughout the ceremony, with temperature checks conducted at all entrances, and sanitization with soap and water and/or hand sanitizer made available to attendees. All guests and students were also required to wear a face mask at all times, according to VIDE.
The Department of Health continues to conduct contact tracing of guests that may have come in close contact with the affected parent.
Prior to the May 20 graduation ceremony for Ivanna Eudora Kean High School (IEKHS), the Department of Health informed Department of Education officials that three seniors — one from CAHS and two from IEKHS — had tested positive for COVID-19.
Those students and at least 10 others were prohibited from participating in the May 20 and 21 graduation ceremonies.
Anyone who attended the CAHS graduation ceremony on May 21 and is concerned about their exposure to COVID-19, may contact the Department of Health’s epidemiology hotline at (340) 776-1519 or (340) 712-6299, or call their private physician for further guidance.