64 New COVID-19 Cases Reported Within Greenwich Public Schools

GREENWICH, CT — According to the latest update from the Greenwich Public Schools COVID-19 tracker, 64 new cases were reported on Friday, representing the largest increase for the district since the pandemic began in March 2020. The previous record increase was on Dec. 14 at 35 cases.

In her weekly note to GPS families, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Toni Jones said the majority of positive cases are primarily from birthday parties, sports and holiday events.

"There is much talk about different variants now found in the State of Connecticut, and they are proving to be more contagious than before," Jones said. "We hope you all appreciate the hard-working members of our health care team who are working tirelessly to alert families, either by phone or email, if their child has been exposed. They are truly our heroes working behind the scenes to keep us all safe."

There are 104 active cases affecting every school in the district, with Greenwich High School experiencing the most cases at 43, according to the district tracker.

Of the 104 cases, 61 can be traced to outside activities or family, and two are from in-school transmission. Forty-one are undetermined.

Ninety-one cases involve students, eight are teachers, four are service providers and one is a non-teaching staff member.

Jones added in her note that the district is aware there could be a delay with scheduling appointments for COVID-19 tests because of the increase in cases.

"We do not like when students miss school, but if they do have symptoms, please make sure they stay home," she said.

Jones said if families are having difficulty scheduling a lab test to be cleared for a return to school, the district is temporarily accepting home tests for reentry.

A family can take a photo of the negative test and submit it to their school nurse.

To view the entire GPS COVID-19 tracker, click here.

COVID-19 In Greenwich

According to the latest update from First Selectman Fred Camillo, the total number of resident COVID-19 cases confirmed among town residents (since the pandemic began in March 2020) is 6,471 with 143 active cases being tracked by Health Department staff as of 3 p.m. Friday.

On Dec. 10, there had been a total of 6,289 cases among residents.

According to Camillo, Health Director Caroline Baisley reported that the 143 cases reflect an additional 97 cases confirmed since Dec. 14. The Health Department received 51 new reported cases on Friday alone.

The cases are predominately diagnosed in residents age 10 to 49 years old, Camillo said.

In the last week, another Greenwich resident has died from COVID-19, bringing the death toll in town since the pandemic began to 99.

Vaccination rates by age group are as follows as of Friday night, according to Camillo's update:

• Age 5- 11: 27.65 percent of 6,470 residents
• Age 12-17: 89.17 percent of 5,449 residents
• Age 18-24: 81.62 percent of 4,037 residents
• Age 25-44: 66.99 percent of 13,580 residents
• Age 45-64: 81.65 percent of 18,950 residents
• Age 65 +: 91.37 percent of 10,466 residents