Monthly Archives: October 2020

The Board of Health has announced the following case numbers of COVID-19 in Medfield: 54 confirmed, 7 active

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From: Marsden, Jeffrey <aspen-sysadmin@myfollett.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 12, 2020 at 6:26 PM
Subject: Message from the Superintendent- COVID-19 Update #25- Postive Cases
To: <jmarsden@email.medfield.net>

Dear Parents,

We were informed this afternoon by the Public Health Nurse that a student at Blake Middle School and a student at Medfield High School have tested positive for Covid-19. It’s important to note that these students did not participate with in-person classes during their infectious period, which is defined by the Massachusetts Department of Health as 48 hours before the beginning of symptoms. Because of this, there are no in-school close contacts. All community close contacts have already been identified and contacted.

Though we cannot provide specific information about the students who tested positive, if you have not been contacted, your child was not a close contact with either of the affected students. See the definition of a close contact below:

What is a close contact?: Per Massachusetts DPH, if a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, their close contacts will be defined as only those who have been within 6 feet of the individual for at least 15 minutes, while the person was infectious.  All close contacts should be tested but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of the test result. 

Our students and staff will continue to adhere to the safety protocols during school and during after-school activities including mask-wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing. We are grateful for the continued vigilance of our families as your efforts, coupled with the school safety measures continue to help reduce the risk of transmission in Medfield. It is critical that families whose students/family members test positive for COVID-19 report the results to our school nurses and the Medfield Health Department. Please see the attachment with important COVID-19 resources.

Sincerely,

Jeff Marsden

Jeffrey J. Marsden, Ed.D

Superintendent 

Medfield Public Schools

508-359-2302

Follow me on Twitter @JeffreyJMarsden and @DaleStProject

#medfieldps  #medfieldpln–

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Medfield Public Schools
COVID-19 Resources
Kathy Thompson, RN, MSN
Medfield Public Schools Nurse Leader

1. Daily Home Screening
   A. If your student has any of these symptoms or situations below, do
   not send them to school and please call the school nurse. We may
   recommend you call their health care provider for further follow-up
   and/or testing.
   ■ Fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) or chills
   ■ Cough (not due to other known cause, such as asthma)
   ■ Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
   ■ New loss of taste or smell
   ■ Sore throat
   ■ Headache (in combination with other symptoms)
   ■ Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
   ■ Fatigue (in combination with other symptoms)
   ■ Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other know
   causes such as allergies) and when in combination with other
   symptoms
   ■ Muscle aches and/or body aches
   B. If your student is a close contact of someone who has tested
   positive, they must quarantine for 14 days after last exposure to them.
   Close contact with a COVID + person is defined as within 6ft of them for
   15 minutes during their infectious period. The i nfectious period is 2 days
   before symptoms start or the date of positive test for individuals without
   symptoms.
   C. If your student travels outside of Massachusetts to a high risk
   state, they must follow the MA Travel Order BEFORE they can return to
   school. Please contact the school nurse if they have travelled outside of
   MA (or have plans to).
   2 . If your child needs to be dismissed through the nurse’s office, we ask that
   someone be available to pick them up within 30 minutes of the call. Be sure your
   emergency contacts in ASPEN are current.
   3 . If you/your student needs to get tested, it must be the more reliable PCR test.
   4 .Here is a list of all testing sites in MA: MA Testing Sites . It is advised that you
   check with your insurance before getting tested Stop the Spread Marlborough is
   a free site with relatively quick turn around (24-48 hours) for a PCR test.
   5 . Due to changes in where students eat snack/lunch and lack of Allergen
   Free table please refrain from sending your student to school with ANY foods
   containing peanuts or tree nuts.
   6 . Please have your student get a flu shot this year by 12/31 as it is a new
   immunization requirement for all Massachusetts school students.
   SCHOOL NURSE CONTACT INFO:
   Memorial , Kim Maguire, RN, BSN: (508) 242-8576
   Wheelock , Aimie Kiegan, RN, BSN: (508) 242-8577
   Dale , Kathy Thompson, RN, MSN: (508) 242-8573
   Blake , Tricia Williams, RN, BSN & Arlene O’Driscoll-Dricoll RN,
   MSN: (508) 242-8554
   MHS , Liz Bennett, RN, BSN & Brittany Hardiman, RN, BSN: (508)242-8568