Superintendent’s Update re COVID-19 (Sunday, March 8, 2020)

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March 8. 2020

Dear Weston Community,

This afternoon we received word from the Weston Board of Health that we have our first presumed, confirmed case of COVID-19 (coronavirus). It is the same parent of the Middle School student who has not been in school since last Wednesday. At that time the student was, and remains today, asymptomatic. The student will remain on home quarantine following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health protocol (MDPH) and will not return until cleared by the Weston Board of Health, which implements the MDPH guidelines.

Working closely with the school nurses in the past week, the district has educated all faculty, staff, and students on the practice of good hygiene. Over the weekend all schools were thoroughly cleaned and the Middle School was disinfected and sanitized using Victory Electrostatic Sprayers. We will continue to thoroughly clean and use these sanitizing devices throughout all of the schools in the coming days and weeks.

All school buildings will open tomorrow. We will not be holding the two music concerts. Additionally, all field trips have been canceled this week. We hope to reschedule these events for a later date. We will continue to follow the guidance of the MDPH, state and local Departments of Public Health, as well as follow the daily updates and recommendations provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please click on the following link to stay updated. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/guidance-hcp.html

As I noted in an earlier communication, while this is a serious public health situation, the CDC continues to believe the immediate risk to the general public remains low at this time. Yet, in today’s connected world, outbreaks of diseases are always of concern. The COVID-19 continues to be a rapidly evolving situation that we are following closely. We are in frequent communication with the local Board of Health and will seek advice as needed from the MDPH, Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, and the State Epidemiologist.

Please know we are taking this situation extremely seriously and will continue to be in communication with you.

Sincerely,
Dr. Midge Connolly

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Dr. Marguerite (Midge) Connolly
Superintendent, Weston Public Schools