Medford Schools Saw 'Significant Uptick' In COVID After Holiday

MEDFORD, MA — There was a "significant uptick" in COVID-19 cases in Medford schools after the Thanksgiving weekend, Superintendent Marice Edouard-Vincent said.

At a school committee meeting on Monday, Edouard-Vincent said testing in schools yielded a positivity rate of just under 4 percent in the week after the holiday. It had previously been under 1 percent.

"While this is not necessarily surprising, it is a reminder of the need for continued vigilance," Edouard-Vincent said.

Among the spike in COVID-19 activity was an outbreak at Kids' Corner, the daycare program for employees of the Medford Public Schools. Three of the five classrooms had to quarantine due to the spread of the virus, according to Edouard-Vincent.

"Daycare programs in our region and around the country have faced similar and greater challenges since the beginning of the pandemic," she said.

The district has seen "very strong" participation in vaccination clinics, Edouard-Vincent said, and is organizing additional vaccination opportunities for students 5-11 years old. The next clinic will be held Saturday, Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Andrews Middle School to give second doses to students who attended the Nov. 20 clinic.