DIXFIELD, Maine — RSU 56 based in Dixfield now has three positive cases of COVID-19, Superintendent Pam Doyen confirmed with NEWS CENTER Maine Tuesday evening.
On Monday, the school district said all district schools would be closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday days due to someone associated with the school system testing positive for COVID-19. With the news of three cases, Doyen said Tuesday it will instead be remote for two weeks, rather than three days.
RSU 56 serves the towns of Canton, Carthage, Dixfield, and Peru. Doyen would no specify which school in the district has the positive cases.
"It's concerning. Our kids had just come back. We had only been back in school for five days," said Superintendent Pam Doyen.
According to Superintendent Pam Doyen, there's a possibility that other staff or students came in contact with the person who tested positive.
"When one school has cases, it goes for all of our schools because we have one bus run, so we have cross mitigation opportunities on the bus," said Doyen.
Doyen says schools will undergo "thorough sanitizing and disinfecting." All students will be receiving remote instruction during the next two weeks until Sept. 29.
People associated with the school system are asked to monitor themselves for signs and symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start and stay home if you are sick, Doyen said.
Signs and symptoms include:
- fever or chills new loss of taste or smell
- cough sore throat
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing congestion or runny nose
- fatigue nausea or vomiting
- muscle or body aches diarrhea
- headache
RSU 56 schools are not the first needing to change course due to COVID-19. Saint Dominic Academy’s Lewiston campus will offer remote learning to its students through September 28 after two students have tested positive for the virus.