September 8, 2021
Dear Parents and Staff:
The Clinton Public Schools received
notification this afternoon of a positive COVID-19 test result for a member of
the Eliot School community. The individual who tested positive was last
in the school building on Friday, September 3, 2021.
Following the guidance of CT River Area
Health District (CRAHD), our local health district, and the CT State Department
of Public Health, contact tracing was conducted today. All individuals who were
determined to be in close contact with the positive case have received a phone
call and have been informed about required actions.
The new guidance includes a CDC-designated
exception for the definition of close contact, for students in a classroom
setting. This states that if a student in this setting is masked and spaced at
least three feet away from a positive case, they would not need to quarantine.
In all non-classroom settings, the standard for identification as a close
contact is being within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes. Additional
contact tracing guidelines state that individuals who are fully vaccinated are
not required to quarantine.
It is imperative that all students, staff,
and parents work together both in-school and out-of-school to control the
spread of COVID-19. The proven mitigation strategies, including vaccination,
mask-wearing indoors, social distancing, and hand hygiene are necessary to
reduce and control the spread of COVID-19. If any staff or students
exhibit any of the symptoms related to COVID-19 they should stay home, call
their medical provider to report their symptoms, and notify School Nurse
Supervisor Donna Frechette at [email protected] or 860-664-6572.
The District will continue to immediately
respond to notifications of positive COVID-19 cases of students or staff in the
district, to work closely with the CT River Area Health District, and to
communicate with our families and staff all required information and
notifications. Summary data regarding positive cases and public health
metrics are updated on Friday of each week and can be found on the COVID-19
dashboard on the district
website.
If you have questions, please do not
hesitate to contact me or our School Nurse Supervisor Donna Frechette at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Maryann
R. O’Donnell
Superintendent