Manasquan Elementary School Student Tests Positive For COVID-19

MANASQUAN – A student at Manasquan Elementary School has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials announced this weekend.

Superintendent Frank Kasyan notified the district that a student in Manasquan Elementary School has received a positive COVID-19 test result but schools will remain open this week.

The student was last in the school building on Wednesday, he said.

The district, along with the Monmouth County Health Department, engaged in contract tracing to determine if the student had close contact with any other people at the school, Kasyan said.

Through the process, officials ultimately determined that no other students outside of the infected student’s household were in close contact with the child and only one employee was, Kasyan said.

The infected student, any household members and the staff member who were in close contact are now quarantined at home in accordance with Health Department Protocols.

Consistent with the district's plan, the building's custodial staff has been implementing deep cleaning protocols that include the application of chlorinated disinfecting spray – which is EPA-approved to neutralize COVID-19 – on all surfaces in the building, Kasyan said.

The custodial staff has been inspecting all filters in unit ventilators and rooftop HVAC units and vacuumed all supply and return vents in all classrooms.

"According to our restart and recovery plan, you will be notified of any positive COVID-19 cases for staff or students that occur as we move forward," he said. "Please be aware, our plan was designed anticipating that cases would sporadically arise and that, when they do, the number of school community members affected and the impact on the district is minimized.

"Our restart protocols, implemented in both schools, that include the wearing of masks and social distancing, minimize the risks of the spread of the virus in our schools which is evident in this case given the lack of close contacts."