Bethel Schools Mull Return To Hybrid Attendance Model

BETHEL, CT — The Bethel Public Schools are "closely monitoring" whether they can maintain full in-house schooling in the face of rising coronavirus infection rates in the area.

"Fairfield County continues to be in the 'low risk' learning model, but the indicators are trending to 'moderate risk' levels, which favors hybrid learning," Superintendent Christine Carver wrote in an email to parents on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont said the COVID-19 positivity rate had jumped to 3 percent in the state. There were currently 217 people reported hospitalized due to the coronavirus, 22 more in the previous 24 hours.

"In general, the impact of increased positive cases across the state coupled with staff that have had to quarantine as a result of being a direct contact (with transmission occurring outside of school) is starting to have an impact on staffing levels within the schools," Carver wrote.

Since Friday, the town Department of Public Health has seen increased transmissions among and within families, most often as a result of social and family gatherings, according to the email.

Carver urged any student experiencing symptoms of a cold — cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, sore throat and/or a fever — or any student who is the child of a parent exhibiting those symptoms, to stay home and contact their medical provider.

Students who test positive for the coronavirus must quarantine for 14 days.