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Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent Robbie Mason confirmed Tuesday, Oct. 20, that a staff member at Phenix Elementary School has tested positive for COVID-19.

“Parents at Phenix Elementary were sent a SchoolReach alert this morning,” Mason said. “A letter will go home with each student today (Tuesday) and with the students in the Wednesday/Thursday groups.

Due to HIPAA laws Mason could not release any further details.

For the third week in a row, Charlotte County has seen a significant jump in COVID-19 cases with what is now being labeled as a community-wide outbreak by Piedmont Health District Director, Dr. Robert Nash.

As of Tuesday, that number was 17 new cases in one week bring the total to 201 positive cases since March. Also, on Tuesday, the Virginia Department of Health reported the first COVID-19 death in the county.

Many in the community speculate the spread is linked to an inside four-day church revival event held at Emmanuel Bible Church, located at 401 Southern Drive in Keysville from Sept. 20 through Sept. 23. The church has said many who attended the services became sick with coronavirus.

“Not adhering to these mitigation measures caused a community-wide outbreak,” Nash said.

On Tuesday, Oct. 13 the school board pushed backed the in-person reopening on schools due to the outbreak.