South School: No New Coronavirus Cases After Further Testing

ANDOVER, MA — The South Elementary School coronavirus outbreak is stable at 24 positive cases, Principal Brenda Lee said in a letter to families Monday.

The school tested multiple students upon arrival at school under the state's Test & Stay program.

"We are happy to report that all Test & Stay students tested negative this morning and our numbers are stable at this time," Lee said.

Under the Test and Stay program, close contacts are given rapid tests at school, for at least five days.

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Lee said Sunday in a school newsletter that 24 cases were identified since Monday, Nov. 1.

The outbreak resulted in a number of students being kept home Monday, the principal noted.

"We understand a number of families made the decision to keep their children home from school today," she wrote. "If a student has a confirmed case or is a close contact that stayed home, your child’s teacher has provided classwork for them to complete while at home and the child will have at least two scheduled touch points per day from South staff during their isolation or quarantine period.

"If your child is not a positive case or close contact and did not come to school today, they will be marked absent and will not receive work from the teacher," Lee continued. "This is consistent with the DESE’s COVID-19 guidelines on student attendance."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.