4J BUS DRIVER TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

4J BUS DRIVER TESTS POSITIVE FOR CORONAVIRUS

That's claimed the lives of four people here in oregon.

Thank you for joining us im jillian smukler.

Tonight we've learned that a 4-j school bus driver has tested positive for the virus.

Here's what we know about the case so far.

According to lane county public health... the case is travel related.

He is a man in his fifties ... lives in the eugene springfield area ... he traveled between february 27-th and march 3-rd.

He had a cough*before he started his travel and also developed a fever.

He was tested on march 17th.

We're told he did*not have direct contact with other employees but*did have*minimal contact with children.

He is medically stable and in good health.

Officials say the families of about 240 students have been contacted but*no students have shown any symptoms at this time.

We are continuing our team coverage on the growing crisis across our area--- we begin with kezi 9 news reporter emma jerome who has more on this bus driver-- and what 4-j parents need to know.

Emma what can you tell us?

Jillian im here at lane county public health where the press conference just wrapped up and as concerning as this is for parents to hear -- public health still does not believe that the 240 children who passed through that mans bus are at an increased risk of contracting coronavirus jason davis a spokesman for lane county public health said that he still does not believe the 240 or so students that passed through that bus are at risk because he said the surfaces that the driver touched were not ones the kids would have had direct contact with.

4j was already practicing increased sanitary measures including wiping down those surfaces, so if you have ridden a schoolbus anytime or seen kids get off and on you understand that the schoolbus driver really sits away from the kids and has a device that they can open the door and close the door and really does not make any contact with the kids.

Davis says that the isolation that was suggested for the kids who came in contact with the bus driver has been extended four more days from today -- because the man came to work on both the 10 and 11th the students were elementary to middle school aged and if your child was on that bus and is starting to present symptoms you are urged to first call your health care provider who will then reach out to public health if they believe a test to be necessary.

Reporting live in eugene ej k9n