2 At Hillsborough Middle School Test Positive For Coronavirus

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Two people at Hillsborough Middle School, including an athlete on the girls' soccer team, have tested positive for the coronavirus, Superintendent Dr. Lisa Antunes said.

As a result of the positive cases, the HMS girls' soccer team has been put on hold for two weeks, Antunes said in a letter sent out to the community Thursday.

The coaches and team players have been notified by the Athletic Department.

"If your child is on the HMS girls’ soccer team, your child is NOT PERMITTED to attend games or practices on any teams until the quarantine period is over," Antunes said.

Antunes also noted that those who may have been in contact with the two people who tested positive would have already been contacted by the township's local health officer.

The district is cleaning and disinfecting all exposed areas and equipment will be completed as appropriate. The school is also taking precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of viruses and other germs and is cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily, according to Antunes.

"The status of this situation is fluid, and we are monitoring it closely," Antunes said.

This is the second time the district has had to put sports on hold following a positive coronavirus case. After several possible positive coronavirus cases were reported in Hillsborough, the school district shut down some athletics programs for students in grades 7 to 12 for two weeks during the week of Sept. 21. Read More: Hillsborough Schools Stop Sports For 2 Weeks Due To COVID Cases

Antunes also encouraged parents and students to continue following the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention promoted safeguards, such as:

• Staying home when you are sick;
• Washing hands often with soap for at least 20 seconds;
• Covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues;
• Limiting close contact with people who are sick and not sharing food, drinks and utensils;
• Practicing social distancing (staying at least 6 feet apart);
• Wearing a face covering while in school; and
• Continuing to monitor your health for symptoms.

"As always, we appreciate our community's support and cooperation. You can assist us by remaining vigilant but sensible in your approach to dealing with this health concern. We cannot stress the importance of reporting positive tests or contact with a person/people they know to be a positive case to the Hillsborough Township Health Department," Antunes said.

For any questions about this situation, contact Michael Davis, Athletic Director, at mdavis@htps.us or Krista Williams, HMS School Nurse, at kwilliams@htps.us.

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