Massachusetts School Closures in the NEWS
Bridgewater School Officials Blame Delta Variant as Entire 4th Grade Class Quarantines
NBC10 September 17, 2021
An entire fourth grade class is in quarantine after testing positive for coronavirus in Bridgewater, and school administrators say the highly contagious delta variant is to blame.
The 13 students and two employees at Williams Intermediate School are among 1,420 students and staff who tested positive for COVID-19 across Massachusetts between Sept. 13 and Sept. 15. They will be allowed to return to class Thursday, contingent on a negative PCR test.
The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the number of COVID cases in schools Thursday in its weekly report, the first of the 2021-22 school year. A total of 1,230 students and 190 employees with district building access within seven days of the report tested positive.
Assistant Superintendent Ryan Powers of the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District said the virus is spreading more rapidly and they’re already starting to see some breakthrough cases.
Western Massachusetts school to remain closed for 3rd day after multiple cases of COVID confirmed
A Western Massachusetts school remains closed for a third day due to confirmed cases of COVID-19
Farmington River Elementary School, a Berkshire County school with just over 100 children enrolled, closed Friday while awaiting testing results of students and staff.
The school remained closed Tuesday and Wednesday “due to either a positive case or some awaiting testing,” Farmington River Regional Superintendent/Principal Tom Nadolny told the Berkshire Eagle. He added, of staffing concerns with the bus company the district uses, “The fact that we cannot transport students is the reason for the closure.”