Faced with a flood of new COVID-19 cases, Darien school district officials are sending general messages to entire classrooms of students when they may have been exposed to someone with COVID, the district’s nursing director and superintendent said in an announcement to parents and others in the school system.
The nursing director, Alicia Casucci, and Superintendent Alan Adley pleaded with parents to keep their children home if they show signs of COVID-19:
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping any individual who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID AT HOME. These symptoms may be very mild and include a sore throat, headache, cough, congestion, mild runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Anyone experiencing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should seek the advice of their primary care provider and testing as soon as possible. (Boldface and italics in original announcement.)
The state Department of Education and other state authorities are reviewing the state’s contact tracing procedures. If the procedures are then changed, Casucci and Adley said, employees and families of those in the school system will be told.
Full Text of Addley’s and Cosucci’s COVID-19 Announcement
Dear Parents and Community Members:
We continue to receive notifications of large numbers of COVID positive students and staff members across the district. Since Sunday, sixty-eight (68) cases have been reported. In consultation with our Medical Team, we will temporarily modify our contact tracing and notification process. For tomorrow, individuals who may have been exposed to a COVID positive classmate or staff member, will be notified through a general message sent to the entire class roster. In-school contact tracing will be paused beginning tomorrow at noon, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, until school resumes on Jan. 3, 2022. Please continue to report positive cases to the COVID reporting line at (203) 656-7440.
Given the significant increases in COVID cases in schools across the State, the Connecticut State Department of Education and Department of Public Health are reviewing their contact tracing procedures. We will share any changes, if and when they are received by the District.
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of keeping any individual who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID AT HOME. These symptoms may be very mild and include a sore throat, headache, cough, congestion, mild runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Anyone experiencing symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should seek the advice of their primary care provider and testing as soon as possible.
Testing Resources: It has become increasingly more difficult to find testing locally. In addition to contacting local pharmacies, you may find the following two resources helpful in locating a testing site: 211ct.org and CT DPH Testing Sites.
Today’s cases, twenty-two (22) in total, are listed below. The affected individuals have been instructed to remain home in self-isolation for ten (10) days from the date of their positive test. All family members have also been instructed to follow the current public health protocols for vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals, depending on their individual situation.
|
Location |
Last Day in School |
Contact Tracing: Additional Individuals Quarantined |
Contact Tracing: Screen & Stay |
|
DHS Case #1 |
12.20.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
DHS Case #2 |
12.21.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
DHS Case #3 |
12.21.21 |
4 |
0 |
|
DHS Case #4 |
12.21.21 |
pending |
pending |
|
DHS Case #5 |
12.21.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
DHS Case #6 |
12.20.21 |
pending |
1 |
|
DHS Case #7 |
12.21.21 |
pending |
1 |
|
DHS Case #8 |
12.20.21 |
pending |
pending |
|
MMS Case #1 |
12.21.21 |
1 |
0 |
|
MMS Case #2 |
12.21.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
Hindley Case #1 |
12.21.21 |
1 |
0 |
|
Hindley Case #2 |
12.21.21 |
0 |
3 |
|
Hindley Case #3 |
12.17.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
Holmes Case #1 |
12.21.21 |
0 |
2 |
|
Holmes Case #2 |
12.17.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
Holmes Case #3 |
12.22.21 |
0 |
8 |
|
Holmes Case #4 |
12.20.21 |
0 |
1 |
|
Royle |
12.14.21 |
0 |
0 |
|
OxRidge |
12.21.21 |
8 |
0 |
|
Tokeneke Case #1 |
12.20.21 |
1 |
0 |
|
Tokeneke Case #2 |
12.20.21 |
2 |
0 |
|
Tokeneke Case #3 |
12.20.21 |
2 |
0 |
Sincerely,
Dr. Alan Addley, Ed.D
Superintendent
Alicia Casucci, APRN, CPNP
Director of Nursing Services