The V.I. Department of Human Services Thursday night confirmed that it closed both the Anna’s Hope Head Start Administrative Office on St. Croix and the Knud Hansen Head Start Office on St. Thomas after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.
The double closure suggests that this staff member might have exposed employees at both facilities.
D.H.S. said the offices will be closed until Tuesday, August 3 while the department activates Covid-19 mitigation protocols and cleans the facilities. The department said it is also working with the V.I. Department of Health to ensure contact tracing, and staff members have been referred to pop-up testing sites.
The Head Start Administrative Offices in both districts will re-open on Wednesday, August 4, D.H.S. said.
During the temporary closures, clients may contact the following numbers as staff will be working remotely:
St. Thomas/St. John:
• (340) 244-4369
St. Croix:
• (340) 772-1981
• (340) 773-1972
All other D.H.S. offices will continue their normal operations, according to the release. "In an abundance of caution, employees that are identified as persons under investigation by D.O.H. must produce a Covid-19 negative test before returning to work," D.H.S. said.
Current Actions Being Taken
- A notification was sent to all staff advising of the COVID-19 positive results.
- DHS has referred staff to Pop-Up testing sites.
- The facility has been and will continue to be cleaned and sanitized according to protocol.
- D.H.S. Covid-19 mitigation protocols continue to be emphasized with staff and include, masking of all staff, temperatures being taken before staff can enter the facility, self-attestation regarding potential exposure etc.
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