Seekonk Public Schools Reports Positive Case of COVID-19 at Aitken Elementary School

Seekonk — Superintendent Rich Drolet reports that Seekonk Public Schools were informed today of a positive case of COVID-19 at Aitken Elementary School.

An individual at Aitken Elementary School has tested positive for the virus and is self-quarantining in accordance with Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocol. Under state and federal privacy laws, no further information is available about the individual.

Out of an abundance of caution, all Aitken Elementary School fifth grade students will participate in remote learning for the week of Oct. 26-30. Information about this transition was sent to fifth grade families on Sunday night by Principal John Haidemenos. If any fifth grade student still needs a Chromebook, please contact Principal Haidemenos or Technology Director Colleen Terrill.

The district is actively working with and following guidelines from DPH and the Seekonk Board of Health Agent.

The district worked with the Seekonk Board of Health Agent to identify and contact all close contacts of the positive individual. If you were not contacted by the school as part of the contact tracing process, you are not considered to be a close contact. Those who are identified as a close contact (anyone who was within 6 feet of the infected individual for at least 15 minutes up to two days prior to the positive test result) have been contacted and are required to quarantine for at least two weeks.

If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches or change in taste and smell, please stay home and get a COVID-19 test. Testing can be done either through your primary healthcare provider or at one of the testing sites located throughout the state.

Deep cleaning of all schools will continue to be conducted each night. High touch surfaces are and will continue to be cleaned frequently and as needed throughout the day while the building is occupied.

In addition, to prevent further spread of the disease in the community, Seekonk Public Schools ask that students, families and staff take the following precautions to prevent the spread of the disease:
• Stay home if you have a fever or are not feeling well. Students should stay home from school should any new or unexplained illness, no matter how mild, develop. This precaution is meant to keep all staff and students safe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid close contact with others. When outside your home, please adhere to social distancing guidelines and keep a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and others.
• Wear a cloth face covering that covers your mouth and nose to protect others when in public areas.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue in the trash and wash your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
Children may worry about themselves, their family and friends getting sick with COVID-19. Tips for talking to children about COVID-19 can be found here.

Families with additional questions or concerns may contact Aitken Elementary School Principal John Haidemenos at haidemenosj@seekonkschools.org or 508-336-5230; Aitken Elementary School Nurse Jessica Devane at devanej@seekonkschools.org or 508-336-5230; or Superintendent Drolet at droletr@seekonkschools.org or 508-399-5106.