Seekonk Elementary School Reports Positive Case of COVID-19

Annie Sandoli
·2 min read

SEEKONK, MA—An individual at Aitken Elementary School in Seekonk has tested positive for COVID-19 as of last Sunday, prompting all fifth grade students at the school to learn remotely from October 26 until October 30.

According to a statement, Superintendent Rich Drolet said the infected person in self-quarantining in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol. It has not been announced whether the individual is a student or staff member due to state and federal privacy laws.

The district's news website announced that the fifth grade students will learn remotely this week"out of an abundance of caution." Their families were contacted by Principal John Haidemenos with information about working from home, but any student who still needs a Chromebook can contact Principal Haidemenos or Technology Director Colleen Terrill.

The school worked with the Seekonk Board of Health Agent this past weekend to identify and contact those who were in close proximity of the infected individual. Those who were contacted are also required to quarantine for two weeks. Those who have not been contacted were not considered to be a close contact, which is defined as anyone who was pithing 6 feet of the infected individual for at least 15 minutes up to two days prior to the positive test result.

The district is asking that anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, which include fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches, and change in taste or smell, stay home and get tested. The superintendent said a deep cleaning of all schools is conducted each night and high touch surfaces are disinfected throughout the day while school is in session.

Seekonk Public Schools is asking that students, families, and staff to take precautions to avoid spreading the coronavirus, including staying home when under the weather, washing hands fequently, maintaining social distancing, and wearing a face mask.

This article originally appeared on the Seekonk-Swansea Patch