Student Tests Positive For Coronavirus At West Haven High School

WEST HAVEN, CT — A student at West Haven High School has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced Sunday. The school will be closed for two days for deep cleaning and for health officials to conduct contact tracing, according to a message from West Haven High School Principal Dana Parades.

“We have been made aware of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in our school community,” Parades said in a message to the school community. “The student was last in school on Friday, September 11th. In order to deep clean, and to allow the Department of Public Health to appropriately contact trace, West Haven High School will operate on a Distance Learning Schedule for Monday, September 14th, and Tuesday September 15th. All students will learn from home.”

All athletic activities have been canceled for both Monday and Tuesday and regular in-person classes are scheduled to resume on Wednesday, according to Parades.

Superintendent of Schools Neil Cavallaro notified parents last week that officials were “made aware of positive cases in our school community.” In the letter, which was sent to the school community on Sept. 10, Cavallaro said the positive cases were “unrelated to any school sponsored events.”

The West Haven Board of Education and the West Haven Health Department began case investigation and contact tracing activities to “identify all individuals who may have been in close contact with the case,” according to Cavallaro.

“The WHBOE and WHHD will continue to work cooperatively to ensure that all contacts have information on how to protect themselves and others,” Cavallaro wrote in the letter. “Information related to case investigations is confidential and private health information will not be disclosed by WHBOE or WHHD.

“While we remain vigilant in our efforts to keep our staff and students safe through the use of face coverings, thorough hand washing/sanitizing techniques, and effective cleaning procedures, we are asking that families support our commitment to maintain a safe and healthy student body. We understand social opportunities such as small gatherings outside of school and sports activities are an integral part of the social emotional health of our students; however, we urge students and parents to implement the use of mitigation strategies in these settings as well. Lastly, please continue to consult the symptom checklist shared by our district and be sure to monitor your child for any symptoms prior to the start of the school day. Our partnership is crucial to keeping our transmission low and our schools open.”