Two days after Hamden’s schools opened for hybrid in-person instruction, a staff member at the Helen Street School tested positive for Covid-19.
According to an email Superintendent Jody Goeler sent to the Board of Education Wednesday evening, a staff member came to school Wednesday morning and complained of not feeling well. Principal Mike Lorenzo told the staff member to go to the nurse, and the nurse told the staff member they needed to go home and get tested. The test result came back positive.
The staff member only came in contact with their eight cohorted students Wednesday. Those students have been asked to stay home and do distance learning until they can produce a negative test result.
Hamden is following a hybrid education model. At elementary schools, each grade comes to school four days a week so that not every student is in school at the same time. Each class is broken into “cohorts.” While one cohort attends class with a teacher, the other does distance learning from another room in the school. The system is supposed to minimize contact between groups in the school and prevent spread of the virus.
The staff member must remain at home for at least 14 days, and cannot come back to school until they get a negative test.
On Thursday, Goeler sent a letter to parents and other Helen Street community members.
“In accordance with our response plan and the guidance provided by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District (QVHD), and the Department of Education, we have taken actions to inform anyone who was in ‘close contact’ and provided them with instructions on the appropriate steps to take,” Goeler wrote in his letter. “Through our efforts to maintain cohorts and in consultation with QVHD, students and staff members who have not been in close contact are able to remain in school.”
The text of Goeler’s letter is copied below.
Dear Parents and Community Members:
Last night I was notified that a member of our school community at Helen Street School has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19). I wish to express my profound hope that our staff member experiences a rapid and complete recovery.
In accordance with our response plan and the guidance provided by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District (QVHD) and the Department of Education, we have taken actions to inform anyone who was in “close contact” and provided them with instructions on the appropriate steps to take. Through our efforts to maintain cohorts and in consultation with QVHD, students and staff members who have not been in close contact are
able to remain in school.
This incident highlights the need for us all to remain vigilant and to continue our efforts to mitigate the risk of this disease. We urge everyone to continue to practice the following preventive measures:
• Wear a face covering (mask) whenever there is a likelihood that you or your family members will be in the presence of others.
• Wash your hands frequently, using soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Maintain social distancing (at least 6 feet) between yourself and others when outside of your home.
• Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hands or in the air. Always try to cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue away. If you don’t have a tissue, cough/sneeze inside the elbow of your arm.
• As much as you can, avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.
• Most importantly, use the HPS Daily Health Assessment form to identify any symptoms associated with COVID-19. Contact your school nurse and your medical provider if you or your child experiences any of these symptoms and do not enter the school For additional information please see: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms- testing/symptoms.html
We are closely monitoring this situation will provide you with updates as we know more. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.