The Watertown Public Schools had a person test positive for COVID-19 in the same week that the elementary schools are preparing to welcome students back for in-person learning.
Superintendent Dede Galdston announced that a person at Hosmer Elementary School had tested positive, but added that the case would not stop plans to start hybrid learning at the school on Tuesday.
Watertown school staff can participate in free testing for the virus provided by the Broad Institute in Cambridge, but Galdston said that the positive test was not through that program.
“… this morning we were notified of a positive COVID-19 case at the Hosmer Elementary School and we have conducted close contact tracing and following the specific protocols we have in place to address such a scenario. This will not affect our reopening plans for tomorrow,” Galdston wrote in her Superintendent’s Newsletter on Monday.
“Our first responsibility is to keep our students and staff safe, and as such, anyone who could have been a close contact with the positive individual has been contacted,” Galdston wrote.
The definition of close contact being used by the Watertown Schools is someone who has been within 6 feet of distance of an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 for at least 15 cumulative minutes in one day. This includes in school spaces, on the bus, in an elementary classroom, or at an extracurricular activity.
Efforts are being made to disinfect Hosmer, Galdston said.
“Additionally, as part of our safety protocols, we are cleaning and disinfecting the Hosmer School with a focus on those areas frequented by the community member who tested positive,” Galdston wrote. “We will continue to be vigilant in adhering to all of the protocols that have been put in place in an effort to safely continue in-person learning. We are also following all Department of Public Health protocols, including collaborating with our local Board of Public Health to complete contact tracing.”
Read the entire Superintendent’s Newsletter by clicking here.
Reopening should still proceed, hospitals, groceries have not closed down over one positive test.
Only the person feeling ill should stay home . Schools should not shut down everytime a person test positive!
Absolutely, Bob.
This panic everytime someone tests positive is ridiculous and always has been. The disease simply does not warrant it and never has.
A positive case does not mean the person is sick or even symptomatic.
How many cases of the various kinds of flu, colds, and other harmful communicable diseases are in there the Watertown schools and the town every year?
Probably thousands.
But a positive case does mean that the person can spread it and not everyone will breeze through Covid. There are many articles out there saying that even after someone goes from positive to negative they still may have lingering side effects.
I agree that we need to adapt our lives to this new normal but I do worry that not everyone in town is on board with following safety measures. I still see house parties, large get togethers, close contact sports, and other behavior that makes the spread of covid more likely.
And can we please stop comparing it to the flu? Far worse and far more contagious than the flu.
That means the at risk person was not following directions we all know those at risk should be staying home and taking safety precautions. We are all adults and responsible for our actions!