Dear Staff, Parents and Community Members:

We have been notified that six Grade 10 Reading Memorial High School students have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).  Because of our phased in hybrid model, these students have not been in school yet this year.  Through our contact tracing procedures, these students had been in close contact with other students, who also have not been in school yet and those students are now currently quarantined according to DESE protocols. 

In addition, we have received word that a staff member at the Birch Meadow elementary school has tested positive for COVID-19.  This staff member had close contact with other staff members and students in specific classrooms and office areas and those staff and students are in the process of being notified.  Because of our cleaning and disinfecting schedule all Birch Meadow classrooms and office areas were disinfected through a misting process after all staff left on Friday.

As a result of these two situations, we will need to take the following measures out of an abundance of caution:

1. All students at the Birch Meadow Elementary School will be remote on Monday, November 2^nd and Tuesday, November 3^rd (a previously scheduled remote day).  This will allow us to identify if any additional staff and students who were in the school last week will need to be quarantined and to arrange for appropriate coverage for those staff that will need to quarantine.
2. Because several of the RMHS students who tested positive or are quarantined participate in sports, all Reading Memorial High School in person sports and extra-curricular activities will be cancelled until Saturday, November14th.

Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated their definition of close contact to include someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.  In school settings, close contacts include being in a classroom, in other school spaces, on the bus, or at an extra-curricular activity.  Contact tracing with the individuals who tested positive are continuing, and any close contacts are being notified and will be followed up by the Reading Board of Health. At this time, we have not received any reports of other students or staff members experiencing illnesses with symptoms resembling those of coronavirus. 

COVID-19 is thought to be spread via person-to-person contact through contaminated air droplets from coughing and sneezing by an infected person. As with controlling the spread of other viruses, we urge everyone to take the following preventive measures:

• It is not one mitigation strategy but a combination of all these strategies taken together that will substantially reduce the risk of transmission.
• Staff must monitor themselves for symptoms daily and students, with the assistance of families, must also be monitored daily for symptoms. Staff and students must stay home if feeling unwell.
• Masks are among the most important single measures to contain the spread of COVID-19. We require all students and staff to wear masks that adequately cover both their nose and mouth. Exceptions must be made for students with medical, behavioral, or other challenges who are unable to wear masks/face coverings.
• Hand hygiene is critical. Students and staff are required to exercise hand hygiene (handwashing or sanitizing) upon arrival to school, before eating, before putting on and taking off masks, and before dismissal. Handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best practice. However, hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be substituted when handwashing is not available.
• Physical distance greatly reduces the risk of transmission. Physical distancing is a critical tool in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The CDC[1] and DPH[2] recommend 6 feet of distance between individuals.
• Cohorts/assigned seating. Students organized in groups/classrooms and other cohorts help mitigate transmission of the virus. Assigned seating is important because it effectively creates even smaller groups within cohorts which minimize transmission. Assigned seats can also assist with contact tracing. Wherever possible, seats should be assigned (including classroom, bus, meals).

The symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the regular seasonal influenza and the single most important thing to do if any of the following symptoms are present is to STAY HOME.

• Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills (CDC has lowered the temperature from 100.4 to 100.0)
• Cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Headache when in combination with other symptoms
• Muscle aches or body aches
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
• Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
• Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies) when in combination with other symptoms

If staff or students have any of these symptoms, we encourage you to get a PCR COVID-19 test.  A list of test sites is available here, and Massachusetts also has an interactive testing map. Staff and students who have symptoms should also contact their primary care physician for further instructions.

We are closely monitoring this situation and will provide you with updates as we know more. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

John F. Doherty

Superintendent of Schools

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[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html

[2] https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-prevention-and-treatment#social-distancing-