7 Detroit schools staff, parents dead of coronavirus

Parents and staff from seven Detroit schools have died of the novel coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the Detroit Public Schools Community District’s police department has 11 staff members positive for COVID-19, according to the district website. 

Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti acknowledged five of the deaths in a Tweet late Monday. Two more were reported Tuesday.

“One of the hardest days yet,” he said. “All to this awful virus. My heart is in pain for their families and our district and school families.”

A parent from Detroit School of Arts, a parent from Schulze Academy for Technology and Arts, a parent from Chrysler Elementary School and a parent from Bates Academy were all reported to have died from the respiratory illness as of Tuesday evening, according to the district’s COVID-19 webpage.

In addition, three staff members, one from Henry Ford High School, one from Bunche Preparatory Academy and one from Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy.

More:2 Detroit school employees, 3 parents dead from coronavirus

The district had its first reported case on March 14 in a teacher at Osborn High School, according to the district.

A second case in a staff member at the high school was later reported, according to the district website.

There also have been cases confirmed in a contractor at Randolph Career and Technical Center, a contractor at both Moses Field Center and Detroit Lions Academy, and in staff at Mumford High School, Edison Elementary School, Breithaupt Career and Technical Center, Sampson-Webber Leadership Academy, and Brewer Academy. 

Eleven police department staff had cases reported as of Monday.

A representative for the school district said they had no additional information to share on the cases.

Schools are closed by executive order of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Contact Darcie Moran: dmoran@freepress.com.