Seven associated with MC schools receive positive COVID-19 tests

Forty-eight put in quarantine

by Larry Chowning –      

Middlesex County Public Schools Superintendent Tracy Seitz Reported in four emails in recent days, one on Thursday, Aug. 26, on Friday, Aug. 27, on Sunday, Aug. 29, and on Monday, Aug. 30, that seven people associated with the schools tested positive with COVID-19 and 48 people have been quarantined. 

The Aug. 26 email stated, “This letter is to notify you we’ve been informed that an individual last in the school building on Tuesday, Aug. 24, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine.

“Through contact tracing and in communication with the health department we have identified 15 other individuals as having been in close contact, and accordingly in quarantine,” she said.     

“Contact has been made with the families of those who are required to quarantine. It is not necessary for any other students or staff to enter quarantine at this time.

The Aug. 27 email stated that “an individual last in a school building on Tuesday, Aug. 24, has tested positive for COVID-19 and is in quarantine.

“Through contact tracing and in communication with the health department we have identified nine other individuals as having been in close contact, and accordingly in quarantine.”

The Aug. 29 email states that three more individuals have tested positive and are in quarantine. “We have identified five other individuals as having been in close contact, and accordingly in quarantine.”

The Aug. 30 email states two additional individuals tested positive for COVID-19 over the weekend and are in quarantine and 12 others have been in close contact, and accordingly in quarantine.

The Middlesex County School Board agreed on Aug. 9 that everyone (students, teachers, employees and all visitors) must wear masks inside all schools in the county.

In the Aug. 30 email Dr. Seitz stated she will not have another COVID-19 update until Friday, Sept. 3.

Acting in accordance with the school system’s policy, Middlesex school officials did not specify which school or schools were affected, nor say whether those affected were students, teachers, support staff members or some combination of the three.