Polson school lunch program temporarily suspended due to virus

Polson schools’ popular summer meal distribution program was temporarily suspended at the end of July when one food service worker tested positive for COVID-19,

The district released a statement saying they had notified Lake County Health Department and were following their guidance in responding to this incident. The food worker has been isolated, and contact tracing is ongoing.

“All food preparation staff wear masks and gloves, and we do not believe that anyone who received and/or consumed food products prepared by this worker is at an increased risk of exposure to COVID-19,” the statement said. “There is no evidence that food or food packaging is associated with the transmission of COVID-19 regardless of the status of the worker.”

The program was initially expected to start back up on August 11, but Food Service Director Lori Miller says they now intend to start back on Monday, August 10.

Miller said that the program served 700 to 800 meals per day when the program began March 16. Though the need has reduced as the summer progressed, they still serve around 325 meals per day. This includes sack lunches and breakfasts for the next day, The meals are picked up at Cherry Valley and Linderman Elementary schools as well as delivered to Elmo, Trout Lake, Big Arm, Dayton and Valley View.