Two school districts in McKean County have active cases of COVID-19. Meanwhile, a third district has ended mandated quarantines for a confirmed case of COVID-19.
One day short of all those in quarantine returning to school, Bradford Area School District was notified Tuesday that another student at School Street Elementary School had tested positive for COVID-19.
This is the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in a student at School Street. A staff member at Bradford High School also tested positive for COVID-19, as well as a staff member whose building of employment was not released.
The statement issued Tuesday through the district text alert system and social media stated, “We have identified and notified all families whose students have had close contact with this individual as well as any staff members. As per the Department of Health, none of the close contacts will return to school until the required quarantine period has expired. Classes for all other students will resume as normal. If you have not been contacted, it means your student was NOT identified to have been in close contact with the COVID-19 case.”
When contacted Monday, Bradford Superintendent Katy Pude noted that the district would have had all those who had tested positive and those in required quarantines back at school on Wednesday. Now a new wave of required quarantines are in effect.
Classes remain in session for in-person instruction for BASD, as the number of students and staff who have been confirmed to have COVID-19 are well below concerning rates, despite the increasing number of confirmed cases in McKean County.
Smethport Area School District has also reported a confirmed case of COVID-19. Superintendent David London issued a statement Oct. 29 explaining that one of the district’s staff members had received a positive test for coronavirus.
Students and staff who were determined to be in close contact with the individual who tested positive were required to quarantine for 14 days. Those who are considered to be in close contact with an individual who has tested positive for COVID-19 are those who have been within six feet of the individual for at least 15 minutes or who have been directly exposed to coughs, sneezes, etc. from the individual.
Other students and staff can continue to attend school as usual. These individuals are advised to continue wearing masks and to continue social distancing, as well as other safety protocols, to help curb potential spread of the coronavirus.
Port Allegany School District had a confirmed case of COVID-19 on Oct. 23. The mandated quarantines for students who had been in close contact with the individual who tested positive returned to school Monday.
