Reading Returns From Break Remote Amid Dozens Of Positive Cases

READING, MA — The Reading Public Schools returned from the holiday break remote Monday amid rising case counts in Reading and an expected post-holiday spike. That includes three in-school transmissions of COVID-19 and dozens of cases across the district, Superintendent John Doherty said.

"Parents are upset and frustrated, and I empathize with those emotions," Doherty said. "We all want our student back in school, and we want our students to be able to participate in athletics and extra-curricular activities at the high school."

Doherty made the decision to enact remote learning last week. He said Reading's positivity rate is 6.13 percent, which has more than doubled in the past month. Additionally, there were three in-school transmissions of the coronavirus at Reading Memorial High School and RISE Preschool in the weeks leading up to the holiday break.

Between Dec. 23 and Jan. 3, 37 students and staff tested positive for the virus. It is anticipated those numbers will rise this week due to the holidays, Doherty said.

• 13 RMHS Students
• 8 Middle School Students (3 Parker, 5 Coolidge)
• 5 Elementary Students (2 Killam, 2 Eaton, 1 Barrows)
• 4 RISE Students (Wood End and RMHS)
• 7 Staff (1 RMHS, 1 Birch Meadow, 3 RISE, 1 Eaton, 1 Wood End)

"It is our rationale that by keeping learning remote for 4 days next week, we allow for a full 2-week time frame from any holiday exposures, therefore decreasing the risk of further in school transmission," Doherty said.

Reading has also seen a rise in cases among athletes, and not just those at the high school level. The town canceled youth sports for the winter to try to slow the spread of the virus, a move that brought out dozens of protesters Sunday.