Courtesy Image An illustration of the coronavirus provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ALPENA–An Alpena High School student is self-isolating after being identified as a probable COVID-19 case by local public health officials on Friday. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Alpena Public Schools officials on Saturday issued a press release saying they learned of the probable case on Friday “shortly before close of business.”

APS officials on Friday announced one Alpena High school student has tested positive for COVID-19, although that student had not physically been in the school since Oct. 8.

It was not immediately clear whether the probable case was connected in any way to the positive case.

A person is considered to have a probable case of COVID-19 when they are showing symptoms of the disease, but testing has not been performed. Public health officials treat probable cases the same as positive cases.

A district press release said no changes to schedules or routines have been advised by District Health Department No. 4. If district officials receive such guidance from the Health Department, the news release said students, parents, and employees would be notified immediately.

DHD No. 4 officials will notify all close contacts by phone per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The CDC defines a close contact as someone being within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes.

Any direction to self-isolate or quarantine will come from DHD No. 4.

In the meantime, AHS Principal Tom Berriman is asking all AHS families to monitor for symptoms of the disease.