Second Case of Coronavirus Confirmed At Somers Elementary School

SOMERS, CT — A second person from Somers Elementary School has tested positive for coronavirus, leading to eight students and seven staff members needing to self-quarantine for two weeks, according to Superintendent of Schools Brian Czapla.

Notification was posted on the Somers Public Schools website Sunday night, after school officials were made aware of the positive test. The person, who was not identified as either a teacher, staff member or student, reported "not feeling well" on Friday.

Last Tuesday, following the first day of school, a staff member tested positive for the virus, leading to closure of the school for several days for deep cleaning.

The school was open Monday after officials deemed it safe to do so, according to Czapla.

Czapla's most recent letter reads:

Dear Parents and Staff of Somers Public Schools,

I want to give you a COVID update. This past Friday, it was brought to our attention that an individual in one of the 2nd-grade classrooms at Somers Elementary School was not feeling well. This individual was subsequently tested for COVID-19. Today we were made aware of a positive test result. We conducted contact tracing and consulted our local health officials seeking their guidance and expertise.

At the recommendation of our local health officials, we are requiring that eight students in this particular Cohort class self-quarantine for 14-days. The families of those eight students in this specific 2nd-grade class have been contacted, and remote learning will be set up. As a precaution, local health officials' recommended seven staff also self-quarantine.

Somers Elementary School will be open on Monday morning for Cohort A students to attend. Officials have determined it is safe to reopen.

As you are aware, we are not the only school community to be impacted by COVID-19. Please know we continue to do everything we can to keep students and staff safe during these difficult times.

We want to emphasize that it is critically important that we continue to adhere to all the mitigation strategies, including wearing masks, hand sanitizing and washing, and social distancing.

Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Thank you.
Brian P. Czapla

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