Albert Lea Area Schools report first positive COVID-19 case of the new school year

Albert Lea Area Schools have reported their first lab-confirmed COVID-19 case of the school year at Albert Lea High School.

Albert Lea Superintendent Mike Funk reported that the case was brought to the district’s attention through daily screening procedures of staff and students, which are reviewed by nurses every morning.

Funk stated that the district was notified of the lab results Friday evening. He could not release information about whether the individual was a student or staff member. Funk indicated that through contract tracing, the district identified eight people who were exposed to the individual within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes. Those people have been quarantined for 14 days. According to Minnesota Department of Health protocols, no other individuals in the building were impacted. Janitorial staff conducted a deep cleaning of the building and classrooms on Friday.  

The superintendent stated that half of the high school staff and students were provided information regarding the incident on Monday in person, while the other half of students were given the information Tuesday. The high school also sent out a mass notification to families Tuesday morning.