BCAT News

Burlington Public Schools announced on Friday evening that two more cases of COVID-19 have been identified in students/faculty members in the district, bringing the total number to five.

As reported on Thursday, three people in the district tested positive in three different schools. Those cases were at Francis Wyman, Pine Glen and Marshall Simonds Middle School, though it was determined the case at Francis Wyman had not been in the building during the infectious period.

On Friday, Superintendent Eric Conti and Health Director Susan Lumenello reported one case at Burlington High School and a probable case at Memorial School.

“Because the case at Memorial School has been determined to be a probable case, further laboratory testing is required to determine if this is a confirmed case of Covid-19,” Conti and Lumenello wrote in a letter to parents and faculty members. “The Burlington Board of Health treats all probable cases as a confirmed case until laboratory evidence reveals otherwise.”

According to the letter, the Burlington Board of Health immediately began a case investigation to determine close contacts of each case. A close contact is defined as anyone within 6’ of the affected individual for greater than 10 minutes.  Any student or staff member determined to be a close contact, both through activities inside or outside of school, will be immediately contacted by the Board of Health and will be required to quarantine.  Testing will be recommended for all close contacts, however, any close contacts testing negative for Covid-19 must still complete quarantine requirements as issued by the Board of Health.

Conti and Lumenello say parents/guardians should be aware of the signs and symptoms of Covid-19.  If you believe you or your child may have symptoms of Covid-19, you can check symptoms here.  Anyone exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 should avoid contact with others and contact their health care provider and/or get a molecular diagnostic Covid-19 test.  Free testing sites can be found here.