By Patrick Adrian and Jordan J. Phelan
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CLAREMONT — Claremont Schools Superintendent Michael Tempesta notified families that the district has placed a staff person at Maple Avenue Elementary School on temporary leave due to possible exposure to COVID-19, a novel coronavirus.
On Sunday, SAU 6 informed the faculty, staff and community members that a Maple Avenue Elementary School employee may have come into contact with COVID-19 while attending a coffee social and worship service at Hope Bible Fellowship church in West Lebanon on Sunday March 1, where one of the parishioners in attendance has recently tested presumptive positive for the virus.
Tempesta said the staff member is not exhibiting any current signs of illness. However, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is instructing anyone who attended the service that day to remain under quarantine at home through March 15, under the supervision of a public health professional.
The employee will be eligible to return to work, pending medical clearance, March 16, according to Tempesta.
On Sunday morning, DHHS officials announced the discovery of two new COVID-19 cases in a conference call with health officials, bringing the total in the state to four. One patient is a Rockingham County man who recently traveled to Italy. The other patient is a Grafton County man who contracted COVID-19 after coming in contact with the virus at the Hope Bible Fellowship service on March 1.
A total of 60 people, including the Maple Avenue Elementary School employee, had attended the March 1 service, according to DHHS officials. The state health department promptly notified the pastor at Hope Bible Fellowship, who has since been working with DHHS to notify people who attended the service.
The Grafton County man had not yet been identified to be a potential case for COVID-19 at the time he attended the event.
The Claremont School District learned of the matter through Maple Avenue Elementary School Principal Kathleen Brunnell immediately after it was disclosed to her that one of her staff had attended the Sunday service.
“I would like to commend the staff and administration at Maple Avenue for their commitment to the health and safety of students and staff members and for taking such immediate, preventative actions to ensure the continued well-being of the Maple Elementary School Community,” Tempesta said in closing.
The two new patients are currently in self-isolation at home, under the supervision of health care professionals.
Health officials stress the importance of taking precautions to prevent further transmission, which includes staying home if you are experiencing even mild flu symptoms. This virus can spread easily through respiratory droplets — which includes coughing and sneezing — and spread can occur early on as symptoms are still mild, according to officials.
DHHS officials said the church has acted proactively and appropriately when notified of the newest Grafton County case.
“We work very closely with our community partners,” said health officials at DHHS. “It is the utmost importance that we protect the identity of individuals… We are limited in the amount of information we can release.”
Officials said on Sunday that approximately 150 people are currently under public health monitoring by DHHS. This number is based on the number of people who have identified being in close contact with someone who has the virus.
Officials are now testing more rapidly as 47 new tests have been conducted in the state, with half of those tests being conducted yesterday. Residents can expect further testing in the upcoming weeks.
Health officials do not have a recommendation in regards to town meeting day this upcoming week but that residents should have a heightened awareness of the current situation. Public health laboratories have the ability to test approximately an additional 150 people and will expand in the coming days. Officials say it is not clear when the state will receive more test kits from the CDC. Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center confirmed in a press release on Sunday afternoon that the third Grafton County patient is not an employee.
Across the state, Newmarket Schools Superintendent Susan Givens canceled school throughout the district as a precaution on Monday once she was notified that an employee was advised to self-quarantine by the CDC after traveling on a bus with a diagnosed COVID-19 patient. Community members were notified in a letter Sunday night.
“Presence on the bus does not mean that this employee was exposed to the virus,” Givens said. “I feel that it is important to take this precaution for the health and peace of mind for all members of our learning community.”
The district consists of two schools: an elementary school and a junior-senior high school. The superintendent said more information will be provided.
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