Hanover Public Schools Health Services Update 12/4/20
I am writing to provide an update on COVID-19 in our community. As you may know, the test positivity rate in Hanover was calculated by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to be 5.25% over the past week. Additionally, our average daily case rate was 26.3/100,000. These two metrics have put the Town of Hanover in the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s highest “red” risk level.
Although we have had 53 new positive cases in the Town of Hanover over the past two weeks, only 15 of those are our students and most of those are connected to household clusters. Additionally, there were two positive staff members. Neither were connected to each other or the positive students. After careful attention to contact tracing and testing, we have not seen any evidence of the spread of COVID-19 within the classroom or within the schools. The Hanover Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) COVID-19 testing program has enabled us to quickly test individuals with symptoms and those who are close contacts, giving us an accurate and nearly “real-time” indication of spread. To date, all identified close contacts of positive cases at school have tested negative.
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education guidelines, in-person learning may continue for districts in the “red” risk level as long as there is no evidence of transmission within the schools. After consultation with the DESE COVID-19 consultant, and the Town of Hanover Board of Health, it was determined that our schools should continue to move forward with our current programming, and continue to monitor COVID-19 cases.
The red risk level has potential implications not only for our schools but also for our local businesses. It will take a collective effort to bring our town out of the red level. Governor Baker has stated that there is widespread community spread of COVID-19 across the Commonwealth at this time. Please follow the guidance provided by the MDPH: wear a mask in public, wash your hands often, avoid unnecessary travel, and avoid gatherings outside of your household. If anyone in your household has symptoms of COVID-19 or has been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive, please stay at home and contact your healthcare provider and your school nurse. Your school nurse is able to arrange for free MIH COVID-19 testing through the Hanover Fire Department if you qualify.
Additional information about COVID-19 may be found on Mass.gov: Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Please contact me or your school nurse at any time with questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Patricia Smith, RN, BSN, NCSN
Director of Health Services
psmith@hanoverschools.org