Nearly 1 in 4 Weymouth students missed school Thursday as cases of COVID, other illnesses rise

Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger
·2 min read
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WEYMOUTH – With COVID-19 and other illnesses on the rise in the community, nearly a quarter of Weymouth students were absent on Thursday.

Superintendent Rob Wargo gave an update on the impact of COVID-19 and other illnesses on school operations following the holiday break at the school committee meeting Thursday night.

After receiving their COVID-19 vaccine, children join their parents to watch a movie during the COVID-19 student vaccination clinic at Weymouth High School on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.
After receiving their COVID-19 vaccine, children join their parents to watch a movie during the COVID-19 student vaccination clinic at Weymouth High School on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

Wargo said nearly 20% of students were absent on Monday, and that number grew to about 22% by Thursday.

“There is a silver lining in this: We are appreciative of families and caregivers who are keeping their children home,” he said. “We applaud them in keeping their children home knowing how it impacts them, but it keeps us from having students in the building who may be sick and vulnerable to spreading illness.”

'It's going to be a crazy month': South Shore schools fighting COVID in the classroom

The district also saw a spike in the number of staff members out this week. Weymouth High School was forced to close Wednesday due to staffing shortages.

“Staff aren’t coming to work because they’re heeding the same advice that if they’re not well, they should stay home,” Wargo said. “I need to applaud all our staff that listened to that message and stayed home.”

A long line snakes through the Weymouth High School cafeteria as children wait for the COVID-19 vaccine with their parents during a vaccination clinic on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.
A long line snakes through the Weymouth High School cafeteria as children wait for the COVID-19 vaccine with their parents during a vaccination clinic on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021.

Some Massachusetts schools canceled classes on Monday or started late to give teachers and students time to test for coronavirus before going back to school. Weymouth had rapid COVID-19 tests provided by the state available for all staff who wanted one.

More: Demand for free COVID-19 testing outstrips available tests

More: Here's where you can get a COVID-19 test on the South Shore

Weymouth students who are considered a close contact to a confirmed case can take a rapid test in school every day for 7 days. Students who continue to test negative for COVID-19 can continue to participate in class, athletics and all extracurricular activities.

Between Dec. 12 and Dec. 25, 8.8% of Weymouth residents who were tested for COVID-19 were positive for the virus.

From Dec. 19 to Jan. 1, that rate jumped to 17.3%.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Nearly 1 in 4 Weymouth students missed school on Thursday