By Jordan J. Phelan
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A number of area school districts are temporarily are opting to return to remote learning after cases of the novel coronavirus were detected this week.
The Newport School District announced on Tuesday that it had identified an additional case of the novel coronavirus at Newport High School.
“We received news today that we have had an additional positive COVID-19 case at Newport High School,” said Superintendent Brendan Minnihan in a letter addressed to Tiger Nation. “Given that the extent of community transmission has increased dramatically in Sullivan County, we will need to follow our school reopening plan and close the school buildings in the district for the remainder of this week.”
Minnihan reminds the community that the closure of school buildings doesn’t mean other activities are cancelled.
Individuals who have been in close contact with the person who tested positive will be notified in the next day or so, according to Minnihan.
Newport High School students will continue to receive instruction remotely from teachers on Thursday and Friday of this week and will return to in-person classes on Monday, Nov. 16.
But Newport is not alone.
The Kearsarge Regional School District also sent out a letter this week detailing plans for students at Kearsarge Regional High School to move to remote learning for the remainder of this week as a result of an additional positive COVID-19 test in additional to a number of faculty and staff quarantines and novel coronavirus symptom-related absences.
Some school districts, including Claremont and the Fall Mountain Regional School District, have identified positive novel coronavirus cases but will not be closing their respective schools.
One case was identified at Disnard Elementary School on Saturday, Nov. 7, and measures have been taken to contact trace anyone who may have been exposed and disinfected the building to eliminate any trace of the virus, according to Assistant Superintendent of Schools Donna Magoon.
Claremont school officials also announced on Monday, Nov. 9, that they had identified a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus at Stevens High School. The positive case is said to not be connected with the case at Disnard Elementary School announced on Saturday, according to Magoon.
“Once again, our COVID protocols, staff, student, and family support has made a difference,” wrote Magoon in a press release. “The infected person did not have contact with any of our students or staff during his/her infectious period.”
The school will be doing additional disinfection and clearing in any and all of the areas in which the student would have been located.
The press release reminds residents that the infected person may have had contact with others outside of school hours. If the infected person is to reach out to you, we ask that you self-quarantine at home and contact the school nurse.
At Charlestown Middle School, a case was identified on Monday, Nov. 9, but the individual is said to not have been in the building since Wednesday, Oct. 28, according to a press release issued by Superintendent Lori Landry.
“Under the guidance and direction of [New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services], Charlestown Middle School, as well as our other schools, will remain open and instruction will continue as usual,” the press release, in part, states.
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