Play Areas Closed At Fairfield Schools After Mask-Less Gatherings

FAIRFIELD, CT — Playgrounds at Fairfield elementary schools have been closed to the public after coronavirus safety protocols were violated by those using the play areas, according to the school district.

As of Monday, the playgrounds will be unavailable for public use from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, according to a message on the Fairfield Public Schools website.

“Gatherings without masks and social distancing have occurred on school grounds during school hours, so it has become necessary to limit public use to keep all our students and staff safe,” the message said.

Parents and students will not be allowed to use the playgrounds before or after a child’s hybrid cohort is in session, according to the message.

The playgrounds will still be open to students during recess, Director of Communications Andrea Clark confirmed.

In recent weeks, the coronavirus has had a direct impact on some Fairfield school communities.

Seven students at Fairfield Ludlowe High School currently have the virus and another 14 Fairfield Ludlowe students have recovered after contracting it in recent weeks, according to the district website. The cases led Fairfield Ludlowe to close its school building intermittently as a safety precaution over the course of the last two weeks.

The Fairfield Ludlowe cases have been attributed to parties, pick-up ball games and other events where students were not masked or social distancing.

In addition to those who have contracted the virus, another 68 students and seven staff members were in quarantine as of Monday evening. Affected schools included Fairfield Ludlowe and Fairfield Warde high schools; Roger Ludlowe and Tomlinson middle schools; and Osborn Hill, Riverfield and McKinley elementary schools.