Symptomatic Roosevelt Worker Had No Close Contacts: School Officials

MELROSE, MA — The Roosevelt School staff member who tested positive for COVID-19 this week did not show symptoms until later Monday, a full day later than the school's principal initially reported to families.

Superintendent Julie Kukenberger said an error was made in Principal Mary Beth Maranto's email Wednesday saying the staff member became symptomatic on Sunday and was in school Monday. In fact, Kukenberger said, the staff member didn't begin feeling unwell until later in the day Monday and even took a rapid test at school, which came back negative for the virus.

That staff member went to the nurse's office before school started Tuesday and received another rapid test, this one coming back positive. The staff member left before school started.

The staff member did not have any close contacts, school officials said.

"This staff member had no interaction with any staff members or students," Kukenberger said.

Asked to clarify that someone working for the day didn't interact with anyone, Kukenberger replied: "There were no in-school close contacts identified."

There were no details offered about the vaccination status of the staff member — or whether they were even a teacher. But the district's COVID-19 tracker offers some hints.

Only two cases at the Roosevelt have been reported this month as of Wednesday afternoon. One was a fifth-grader and the other was an in-person city employee, indicating the person is not a teacher and potentially explaining how there were no close contacts throughout the day.

The tracker also says the city employee is vaccinated and has consented to the routine testing program.

The last routine testing session on Sept. 22 were all negative, Maranto said in the email.

"We have been planning for this scenario and have a comprehensive plan in place to utilize COVID-19 testing, inform families whose students were at risk of exposure or in close contact, and support the affected family as they navigate this stressful experience," Maranto said.

There have been 34 positive COVID-19 cases in Melrose Public Schools as of Wednesday afternoon. Twenty-nine of the cases have been in-person students.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi and Instagram at Melrose Happening. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.