Covid-19 In The Tri-Town Schools; 74 Individuals Quarantined

ESSEX, CHESTER, DEEP RIVER CT — Just one week back to school, after the holiday break, and on Thursday, January 7, there was one reported case of a student at Essex Elementary School that tested positive for Covid-19 causing nine students and five teachers to quarantine. On Friday, January 8, another report came in that a staff member of the Collaborative Preschool (which is housed at Essex Elementary School) also tested positive for Covid-19, causing a cohort of ten students and eight staff members to quarantine and later that same day another report was made by the Regional District 4 that a positive COVID-19 case impacted Valley Regional High School. That case impacted 38 students and four staff members who have to quarantine.

All families of students and staff members who had verified close contact with the known positive cases were notified promptly.

The Collaborative Preschool was closed on Friday, Jan. 8, and will remain closed for the week of January 11-15th because, according to a letter sent out by Regional District 4, the district can not adequately staff the Collaborative Preschool due to the number of staff required to quarantine.

The Preschool, which offers PreSchool and PreKindergarten classes for children with and without special needs, is planning to re-open, for in-person classes, on January 19. Until then, students will participate in activities provided by the Preschool Teaching staff and paraeducators via remote instruction.