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Holy Name Elementary School in Ebensburg did not open for classes Friday because school officials suspected an employee who had gotten sick at work earlier in the week may have had COVID-19.
The employee, a cafeteria worker, died Thursday, according to Tony DeGol, spokesman for the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
"At that time, no one knew the cause," so, to be safe, the school didn't open the next day, based on a discussion between the pastor of the parish and the school principal, DeGol said.
Late in the day Friday, the school got word that the worker's illness wasn't related to COVID-19, so it reopened Monday, DeGol said.
"We have to be cautious in this uncertain time," DeGol said.
The name of the worker who died was unavailable Monday.
Holy Name and some other elementary schools in the diocese started the fall semester last week, while all the rest will start this week -- except St. Peter's in Somerset, which will start Sept. 1, DeGol said.
All are conducting classes for all their students in person, DeGol said.
One of the advantages during the pandemic of the shrinking Catholic school population is the abundance of room in the old buildings for spreading out desks to maintain social distance, DeGol said.
All students and faculty are wearing masks, he said.
Grades with large numbers of students have split to create two smaller classes, he said.
That was happening even before COVID-19, he said.
At Our Lady of Victory in State College, at least one grade level was divided into three classes to ensure enough space for COVID-related distancing, DeGol indicated.
Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.