Columbus just held graduation at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The principal has COVID-19

Days after Christopher Columbus High School held a grand graduation ceremony at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, the school’s principal tested positive for COVID-19.

Spokeswoman Cristina Cruz confirmed that Principal David Pugh tested positive on Wednesday for the novel coronavirus. She said he developed symptoms Saturday evening after the event, including a “very mild fever” but is otherwise OK. He was tested Sunday and received results Wednesday.

According to Cruz, Columbus has been conducting temperature checks for everyone on campus, including Pugh, whose last temperature check was Friday. She said he never experienced symptoms until late Saturday evening. When his fever didn’t break Sunday, he decided to get tested.

“Although he does not have any symptoms now, he may have had the virus on Saturday during the graduation ceremony at the raceway,” Cruz wrote in an email.

Cruz said the school’s human resources department is tracing everyone he came into contact with and said an email will be sent from Pugh to the school community.

“All employees were sent home and those that came in contact with Mr. Pugh were asked to quarantine for 14 days and get tested,” she wrote.

The all-boys Catholic high school hosted graduation at the Speedway with hopes of giving its Class of 2020 an in-person but socially distanced graduation. Graduates listened and watched the ceremony in their cars. They pulled up to a tent to receive their diploma through the car window.

Pugh was one of the administrators handing diplomas to graduates. Cruz said he has since been self-isolating.

According to Cruz, all school facilities were immediately closed Wednesday after learning of the positive case. The school will be closed for the next two days for sanitizing but will reopen on Monday.

This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 8:30 PM.