Middleboro school district reports first COVID case, IDs middle school as affected building

By The Standard-Times

Posted Oct 2, 2020 

MIDDLEBORO — On Thursday afternoon, it was announced via a letter from Superintendent of Schools Brian Lynch, Middleborough Public Schools has its first confirmed case of COVID-19.

The letter did not indicate whether it was a student or staff member, but that the case was an “individual at the John T. Nichols Middle School.”

The statement added: “The parents/guardians of students who were determined to have been in close contact with the community member will be notified privately by the Town of Middleborough Health Department.

“Though we cannot provide specific information about our school community member who tested positive, please know that if you are not notified by our Middleborough Health Department, your child was not a close contact of the affected school member (defined as being within 6 feet of the person for at least 15 minutes). As always, you should continue to monitor your child for symptoms, and keep your child home if they show any symptoms or are not feeling well.

“All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 calendar days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of test result. We are also following all Department of Health protocols, including collaborating with our local health officials to complete contact tracing. Additionally, we are asking those parents/guardians whose students are tested for COVID-19 to please report the results to the school nurse. We are working hard to understand the impact of the virus on our school community and this information is critical.

“Our first priority is to keep our students and staff safe. To further prevent transmission of the virus to other staff and students, we have sanitized the school with a particular focus on those areas frequented by the community member who tested positive. 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. We would also like to thank the Middleborough Health Department for their ongoing collaboration and partnership with our Middleborough Public Schools.”