Diocese closes Bishop Larkin Catholic School in Pasco, cites coronavirus concern

NEW PORT RICHEY — After learning a student’s parent had tested positive for coronavirus, Bishop Larkin Catholic School closed its campus for Thursday and Friday so it could get a deep clean.

The school planned to offer classes remotely, so students could continue to get their course work done.

School leaders said they had contacted Pasco County health officials for additional advice and recommended actions. The Health Department had not responded by the time that the school decided to act, they said.

Still, they closed for operations out of an “abundance of caution,” according to the school’s published announcement.

The student whose parent tested positive had not been in attendance since March 6, and the entire family is in self-quarantine, the school stated. Students and families were alerted of the news on Wednesday.

Bishop Larkin announced its move two hours after the Hillsborough County school district held a press conference revealing that Farnell Middle School in Westchase also had closed for 48 hours because of a coronavirus concern.

The Diocese of St. Petersburg, which oversees the Pasco school, issued virus-related directives Wednesday for its parishioners, including not shaking hands during the Sign of Peace.