2 New Coronavirus Cases In Branford Schools Brings Total To 14

BRANFORD, CT - The director of East Shore District Health predicted that after Halloween, COVID-19 cases would spike. He was talking about the community, and schools.

Branford schools superintendent Hamlet Hernandez told families Monday that indeed cases are increasing. But said schools will remain open.

“Over the weekend the District was notified that two more members of the school community, one at Branford High School and one at Mary T. Murphy Elementary School, have tested positive for coronavirus bringing the total number of cases to 14, he said.

The people, whether students or staff is not clear, were last in school on Oct. 27 and Nov. 6, respectively. Each has been instructed to remain on home isolation for 10 days, he said, noting that anyone who would be considered a “close contact” of these people has already been contacted by school officials and/or public health officials and provided with instructions on the appropriate steps to take.

“As anticipated with the onset of cooler weather, our area’s COVID-19 positivity rate is increasing,” he said. “Our school district continues to monitor the evolving crisis and appreciates your partnership in making choices that help to keep our staff, students, and community safe.“

Hernandez said after speaking with East Shore, it was “determined that there is no reason to close school or cancel in-person classes due to the sufficiency of the District’s current cleaning protocols and mitigation measures.”

But he said that parents/guardians, students, and staff continue to follow CDC guidance for healthy practices, to monitor their health, and to stay home and contact their medical provider should they experience any of the symptoms below.

• Fever (100.4° Fahrenheit or higher)
• Chills or shaking chills
• Uncontrolled new cough (not due to other known cause, such as chronic cough)
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• New loss of taste or smell
• For additional information on COVID-19 symptoms, please see the CDC website at the address below: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html