Fairfield Ludlowe Closing Again As Coronavirus Count Increases

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield Ludlowe High School will close again, one day after it reopened, as coronavirus case numbers continue to grow.

As of Tuesday night, a total of 17 students at Fairfield Ludlowe had tested positive for the virus, an increase of three students compared to Monday’s total, Superintendent Mike Cummings said in a community message, which was shared on social media by members of the Board of Education.

Due to the continual rise in cases, the Fairfield Ludlowe building will be closed Wednesday and Thursday, Cummings said, with students learning remotely during the closure. The school had briefly reopened Tuesday, after it was shuttered Thursday and Friday of last week and remained closed Monday during the Yom Kippur holiday. The majority of last week’s cases were connected to parties attended by local teens.

“Indications are that these latest cases result from students gathering again outside of school hours,” Cummings said in the message Tuesday. “More information will be forthcoming (Wednesday).”

By late Tuesday, the Fairfield Health Department had connected with all close contacts of the most recent students to test positive for the virus, and the contacts were in quarantine.

“If your child is showing any symptoms of COVID-19, or if you are waiting for test results your child must remain at home,” Cummings said.

The school district has not reported cases at any schools other than Fairfield Ludlowe, but as of Tuesday night, 79 students and four staff members were quarantined district-wide, according to the district website. Quarantines were affecting Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde high schools, Roger Ludlowe and Tomlinson middle schools, and Osborn Hill and Riverfield elementary schools.