Thanksgiving week and weekend ends with 8 new COVID-19 cases at Concord Public Schools

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Thanksgiving week ended with more coronavirus cases at multiple schools in Concord.

According to Superintendent Laurie Hunter, on Nov. 23 there was a Thoreau school student who tested positive. But because the student hadn't attended in-person learning for some time, there was no contact tracing necessary and no school-related impact.

"We continue to urge caution and care when considering social activities," Hunter wrote on her blog. "Transmission is occurring even in small settings given the high virus rates right now. Of course, we know this pertains to the holiday on Thursday as well."

On Nov. 24, Hunter announced positive cases from an adult at the central office, an adult at Concord-Carlisle Regional High School, and a student at the Willard School.

Contact tracing for the two adult cases were completed.

A second positive case at Willard was announced on Nov. 25. The Concord Recreation program at Willard was involved but not Thoreau and Alcott schools.

The town of Concord is currently in the yellow zone for COVID-19 infection, the second-highest level in Massachusetts. The town's percent positivity rate as of Nov. 19 is 3.21%.

On Nov. 29, Hunter reported another positive student COVID case at CCHS. This case had no connection to the one earlier in the week, she said. There are no school-related contacts since the student was not in school during the contagious period.

Hunter also said there were two new student cases at Willard. The students have been out of school for an extended period so there are no school-related close contacts. These cases are not related to last week’s cases at Willard.