December 7, 2020
- Two (2) new COVID-19 positive cases at Lane School (Lane Cases #3 and #4) have been
- Lane Cases #3 and #4 are not related to any other positive cases at Lane that have been reported in previous notifications and do not appear to be related to in-school transmission.
- Close Contacts of Cases #3 and #4 have been identified by contact tracers. As of the issuance of this letter, families with children who are close contacts have been contacted (directly or via phone/text message) to inform them of their child’s need to quarantine at home. Those students Those students who are affected will be learning remotely during the quarantine period.
- There are 3 active COVID-19 positive cases in the Lane School Community at this time.
Today I was informed of a 3rd and 4th case of COVID-19 within the Lane School Community since the start of school in mid-September. Lane School Case #3 and Case # 4 are now in isolation at home. Investigations revealed that Lane School Case #3 and Case #4 were present in school during their infectious period and close contacts have been identified and instructed to quarantine for fourteen (14) days after the last exposure. Under new quarantine protocols, as an alternative to the 14 day quarantine period, if you have been without symptoms since quarantining, you can have a negative COVID-19 test (via PCR) collected on or after day eight (8) of initial quarantine for a shorter quarantine period (10 or more days), provided you remain asymptomatic throughout. You must still monitor for symptoms through day 14 of the quarantine period. If you have not been informed that your child is a close contact of Case #3 or Case #4, your child is not required to quarantine.
Upon receipt of the positive case report, the Bedford Board of Health Staff and School Nurses immediately began a case investigation to determine close contacts of the case. A close contact is defined as anyone within 6 feet of a COVID-19 positive individual for greater than 15 minutes, cumulatively over 24 hours during the period they are infectious. Any student or staff member determined to be a close contact, both through activities inside or outside of school or as a result of the inability to confirm the specific time frame of contact being less than 15 minutes with Case #3 and Case #4, has been contacted by the Board of Health Staff or School Nurses and is required to quarantine.
Information on close contact identification, contacting tracing and where and when to get tested, can be found in our FAQ.
We remind parents/guardians/caregivers that it is imperative that all Bedford Public School students be evaluated for symptoms of COVID-19 each day before sending them off to school. Teachers and school staff are required to do the same self-evaluation for symptoms. These measures, taken in combination, greatly reduce the risk of transmission.
We will continue to be vigilant in adhering to all of the protocols that have been put in place in an effort to continue in person learning via our current hybrid model. We are also providing remote learning for all students required to quarantine at home to continue to provide instruction, structure, and an emotional connection to the classroom during a time that we know will be challenging for those children and families involved.
We are committed to continuous communication with and support of our families. If there is additional transmission as a result of these cases or a separate case, we will send out another message immediately. Thank you for your continued support.
Wishing you continued health.
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