Quincy first grade class to learn remotely after COVID outbreak
QUINCY – A first grade class at Wollaston Elementary School will learn remotely through Wednesday after seven members of the class tested positive for COVID-19.
In a letter to families, Principal James Hennessy said the students tested positive between Jan. 6 and Jan. 13.
"After consulting with Superintendent Kevin Mulvey, the Quincy Health Department and the Department of Elementary & Secondary Education, I have notified the parents of the other students in the classroom that their students should remain home and quarantine for the next five days," he wrote.
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Hennessy said the students will learn remotely in the meantime and can return to school Wednesday if they are asymptomatic and test negative for COVID-19.
Quincy schools have struggled with a surge in COVID cases since the return from winter break, as have schools across the state. There have been 900 student cases of the coronavirus since Quincy students returned to school Jan. 3 and 130 staff cases as of Thursday.
Weymouth High School was forced to cancel classes Wednesday, Jan. 5, due to a lack of staff, and Quincy schools sent a letter to parents last week explaining the "sharp increase" has made it impossible for nursing staff to individually call families whose students have been in close contact with someone testing positive for the virus.
Mulvey said the Quincy district was anticipating a spike in COVID cases, but wasn't sure how "extensive" it would be.
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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: First grade class in Wollaston to learn remotely after 7 COVID cases
