2 Manasquan High School Students Test Positive For COVID-19

Tom Davis
·3 min read

MANASQUAN – Two Manasquan High School students tested positive for the coronavirus this week, officials said.

The district was notified that a student in Manasquan High School has received a positive COVID-19 test result, Superintendent Frank Kasyan announced on Tuesday. This is the second notification that a high school student this week tested positive for COVID-19.

Since these cases are not linked together and the students are in two different cohort groups – one in blue and one in gray – the school will remain open, Kasyan said. The district made the decision in consultation with the Monmouth County Health Department.

The newly identified student was last in the building on Monday, October 5.

"We are providing this notification consistent with our Restart and Recovery Plan," Kasyan said.

While confidentiality restrictions prevent officials from sharing additional details, the district, along with the Monmouth County Health Department, immediately engaged in contract tracing to determine if the student had close contact with anybody else at the school, Kasyan said.

Close contact is defined by the state Department of Health as being within 6 feet of another person for 10 minutes or more

Three close contacts of the infected person who are students of the district were made away from school property and outside of school hours, Kasyan said. These students who were identified have been contacted and are now quarantined at home in accordance with Health Department Protocols.

Consistent with the district's plan, the building custodial staff will be implementing deep-cleaning protocols that include the application of chlorinated disinfecting spray, which is EPA-approved, to neutralize COVID-19 on all surfaces in the building.

The custodial staff is also inspecting all filters in unit ventilators and rooftop HVAC units and vacuumed all supply and return vents in all classrooms. These measures were taken in addition to the normal enhanced cleaning protocols that are in place daily.

"According to our restart and recovery plan, you will be notified of any positive COVID-19 cases for staff or students that occur as we move forward," Kasyan said. "Please be aware, our plan was designed anticipating that cases would sporadically arise and that, when they do, the number of school community members affected and the impact on the District is minimized.

"Our restart protocols, implemented in both schools, that include the wearing of masks and social distancing, minimize the risks of the spread of the virus in our schools which is evident in this case given the lack of close contacts from school."

The district encourages parents and students to please continue following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention promoted safeguards, such as:

  • Staying home when you are sick;

  • Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds;

  • Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;

  • Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils;

  • Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart);

  • Wearing a face covering while in school; and

  • Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms.

This article originally appeared on the Manasquan-Belmar Patch