Warwick schools await results of COVID testing for Pilgrim High students, staff

WARWICK — The Department of Health was offering coronavirus tests on Wednesday to all students and staff at Pilgrim High School, where 25 students have tested positive recently in an outbreak believed to be connected to the homecoming dance.

The high school is closed for the week. A spokeswoman for Supt. Lynn Dambruch said the district is waiting for results from Wednesday's tests before making a decision about next week.

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School mask policy

A video from the homecoming dance on Nov. 6 showed high school principal Gerald Habershaw and a large percentage of students in attendance without masks.

Students and staff are required to wear masks in all school district buildings in Rhode Island.

“Warwick Public Schools has a mask policy that requires all staff and students to wear masks in all of our buildings," the School Department said in an email. "We are currently investigating this matter."

Students were asked to get a COVID test prior to the dance and to show proof of vaccination if they had been vaccinated, a School Department spokeswoman said.

Linda Borg covers education for the Journal.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: About 25 students test positive for COVID after RI high school dance