Cases Of Covid-19 Reported, Reid Middle, Drury & Pittsfield High

Press release from Pittsfield public Schools.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 10, 2020, the Pittsfield Public Schools, in partnership with The City of Pittsfield Department of Health, was notified that a staff member at Reid Middle School, as well as a student at Pittsfield High School, tested positive for COVID-19.

The Pittsfield Public Schools have closely monitored and planned for, the potential arrival of coronavirus cases within our school community and we wish to share important information about our response, as well as ask for your partnership in helping prevent the spread of this, and other, illnesses.

While this is an evolving situation, we are following protocols and guidance from the CDC, DPH, DESE, MassGov, and other public officials.

The confirmed case at Reid Middle School involves a staff member who works in a contained classroom and who was most recently physically in attendance at the Reid Middle School facilities on November 6, 2020.

The Pittsfield Department of Health is reaching out to each staff, student and family member that has been identified as potentially being in close contact with the infected individual.

Via our school district and tracing protocols, information related to specific circumstances, action steps, requirements, and recommendations, have been communicated – and will continue to be communicated – to any Reid School staff and students identified as potentially being in close contact with the infected individual.

In line with guidance via collaborating agencies, the Pittsfield Public Schools will not close the entire school. Due to the nature and operation of this classroom, students and staff in the one affected classroom at Reid will participate in remote learning through November 20, 2020.

They will resume in person learning on November 23, 2020. Per the Pittsfield Public Schools established protocols, all areas of the building that the individual accessed in the days preceding their positive test result will be thoroughly and re-santized before school resumes on November 12, 2020.

All buses are thoroughly sanitized twice daily as part of regularly established protocols.

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From the North Adams Public Schools Website.

Dear North Adams Students, Families, Staff and Community Members,

We would like to inform you that we have recently received information regarding one confirmed case of COVID-19 in an individual at Drury High School.

Cleaning and disinfecting of the exposed location will be completed per DPH and CDC guidance. Every individual with a potential exposure has been given instructions on the course of action they need to take, including self-isolating and testing, if directed. Please note that all information, including the name(s) of ill persons, shared regarding any Public Health investigation is confidential in order to protect patient privacy.

The district has coordinated with the Department of Public Health and will follow all recommendations. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Nurse Leader for the district, Lauren Gage, at 413-662-3240 ext. 2303 or lgage@napsk12.org.

How Can You Help

Be proactive about reducing the number of interactions that students and staff have with one another by practicing physical distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart) to limit the spread of COVID-19. In addition to physical distancing, another important tool to prevent the spread of coronavirus is to practice good hygiene. Important public health prevention messages include:

Stay at home when you are sick.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and water are unavailable, hand sanitizer can be used.

Cover your cough or sneezes with a tissue, and then dispose of the tissue and clean your hands immediately. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve, not your hands, to cover the cough or sneeze.

Limit close contact with people who are sick, and avoid sharing food, drinks, or utensils.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.

All students and staff must wear a mask at all times in public, other than while seated and eating.