SWAMPSCOTT — Swampscott High School returned to a remote learning model last week after a record-breaking number of COVID-19 cases were identified in the community.
The town’s health department and school department said the outbreak stemmed from an increasing number of cases occurring among high school students related to a non-school event last week, according to a statement from the town administrator’s office.
In a letter to families Friday, Superintendent Pamela Angelakis referred to the outbreak as “the largest … the town has seen” since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has resulted in a large number of positive individuals and even large numbers of close contacts, and these numbers are still evolving as contact tracing continues,” she said.
On March 22, the district planned to have all elementary and special education students return to their original classrooms from other spaces in which they had been learning, while high school students were expected to transition from a two- to a five-day in-person learning schedule.
Angelakis said the high school will instead remain completely remote for the next two weeks until Monday, April 5 — the day slated by Gov. Charlie Baker to be when all districts across the commonwealth must return to fully in-person learning models.
“This is an important reminder for all of us that the pandemic is ongoing, and we cannot let our guards down,” said Marianne Hartmann, chair of the Swampscott Board of Health. “We all must continue to follow all proven public health prevention measures, like wearing masks and social distancing in order to keep everyone safe during this pandemic.”
A statement from the town administrator’s office said the Swampscott Health Department remains in regular communication with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health regarding the outbreak.
“It is critical that Swampscott residents (who) have not been vaccinated get tested for COVID-19,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “We all know the dangers of this deadly virus and we all must maintain our vigilance as we look to return to normal in a phased manner.
“Swampscott is one of the most densely settled communities in the Commonwealth, and we must be mindful that our individual actions impact the public health of our entire community.”
Swampscott Middle School and the town’s elementary schools will still remain as regularly scheduled.
Current case numbers in Swampscott have not yet been released, but as of Thursday, there were 994 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the community, including 19 deaths.
Angelakis said drive-through testing will be provided to faculty and students Monday at Swampscott High School.
“We’re really looking forward to getting everyone back to school. This is an unfortunate setback and is a stark reminder to our students that we’re in the middle of a pandemic,” Angelakis said.
No pre registration for testing will be required. The testing time slots and schedule are as follows:
- 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. — SHS faculty and staff.
- 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. — SHS Junior students.
- 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. — SHS Senior students.
- 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. — SHS fall 2 sports teams.