High school in San Tan Valley closed due to COVID-19 cluster

Health officials in Pinal County say they have identified a cluster of COVID-19 cases at a high school in the San Tan Valley area.

According to a statement released Oct. 11, officials have determined the cluster of cases at San Tan Foothills High School over the course of the past week.

"With the school's help, prompt identification of new cases and potential exposures were determined late on Friday, Oct. 9, 2020," read a portion of the statement.

Health officials say they have now deemed the school's onsite closure to begin contact tracing and quarantine as "the most critical public health interventions to control an outbreak."

Officials say the temporary on-site closure will start on Oct. 12, and will last until Oct. 21. The closure may be extended if new cases of exposure are identified after Oct. 7.

"San Tan Foothills High School staff and students who may have been exposed will be contacted and asked to quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure," read a portion of the statement.

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COVID-19 symptoms

Symptoms for coronavirus COVID-19 include fever, coughing, and shortness of breath. These, of course, are similar to the common cold and flu. 

Expect a common cold to start out with a sore or scratchy throat, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose. Flu symptoms are more intense and usually come on suddenly, and can include a high fever. 

Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear more slowly. They usually include fever, a dry cough and noticeable shortness of breath, according to the World Health Organization. A minority of cases develop pneumonia, and the disease is especially worrisome for the elderly and those with other medical problems such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes or heart conditions.

RELATED: Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Different viruses present similar symptoms

COVID-19 resources

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Why social distancing can save lives amid COVID-19 pandemic

Social distancing is not only about preventing the illness itself, but rather, slowing the rate at which people get sick. 

CDC Website for COVID-19

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus

https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html (In Spanish/En Español)

AZDHS Website for COVID-19

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home

https://www.azdhs.gov/preparedness/epidemiology-disease-control/infectious-disease-epidemiology/es/covid-19/index.php#novel-coronavirus-home (In Spanish/En Español)