WESTBROOK, Maine — A person associated with Westbrook Middle School has tested positive for COVID-19, causing the school to close and move to online learning for the remainder of the week.
According to Westbrook School District Superintendent Dr. Peter Lancia, who sent a letter to families and staff Monday, the person who tested positive was at the school on Thursday, Oct. 8. Lancia says the district's medical staff and administrators are working closely with the Maine CDC to mitigate the impact and to identify close contacts, which is identified as anyone who has been within six feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes.
Lancia says close contacts will be contacted directly. Close contacts must quarantine for 14 days from last exposure to the positive individual, per the Maine CDC. A negative test result does not replace the need for an individual to quarantine.
Lancia says thanks to the district's protocols in place, they were able to receive timely communication about the positive test.
Westbrook schools, which are in Cumberland County, have been classified as "green" by the Maine Department of Education since their back to school guidance was released in August.
A green classification means there's a relatively low risk of COVID-19 spread, and schools could consider in-person instruction with required health and safety measures.
Despite the full go-ahead from the State, the Westbrook School District began the school year under a hybrid model, with students attending school in‐person two days and through distance learning three days each week.
