TAMPA, Fla. — Hillsborough County Schools is closing Farnell Middle School after authorities said a person at the school has been in continuous contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.  

Incoming school Superintendent Addison Davis made the announcement early Thursday morning. 

Davis did not say if this was a student or staff member, but he did say that person right now is not showing any symptoms of coronavirus.

Out of an abundance of caution though, the district is shutting down Farnell for the next 48 hours.

Next week is Spring Break for Hillsborough County Schools. 

Parents received a reverse call from Farnell Principal Tim Binder yesterday. The school is home to around 1300 students in the nine Eagles neighborhood of Tampa.

It was surprising to parent Angela Wright, whose son attends Farnell.

“I don’t want to know who the person is, I really would just like to know has my child potentially had contact with that person?” Wright said.

Meanwhile, the elementary school next door to Farnell Middle remains open. Mary Bryant Elementary parent Sean Johnson said that’s a mistake.

“There’s no reason they shouldn’t clean both schools,” Johnson said. “They share everything.”

Administrators said based on what they know, there’s no need to deep clean both schools. Right now, the focus is on the building of Farnell Middle.

“We are going to do everything that we can to prepare this building for children to come back,” Davis said.

Over the next two days the district will be shutting down the AC units at the school and be doing a deep clean and sanitizing of the school.  Nearly two dozen buses are also undergoing a deep cleaning. Those buses service both Farnell Middle and Mary Bryant Elementary.

"We will go and do a deep clean," Davis said. "To make sure our school is prepared for intake after spring break. This decision is based on the children."

Classes will resume at Farnell Middle after Spring Break.

Davis said the health and safety is a top priority of students and staff.