Abington School District Has Seen A Recent Rise In COVID-19 Cases In Its School Buildings

ABINGTON, PA — Abington School District administrators said the school community has experienced an increase in positive COVID-19 cases lately, but that the news will not signal a return to mandatory universal making anytime soon.

In a message posted to the community on Wednesday, Superintendent Jeffrey S. Fecher said the slight increase in coronavirus cases is on par with what's occurring throughout Montgomery County, and that there will be no major changes to mitigation efforts at this point.

Fecher said the district is in constant contact with county health officials and will continue to follow their guidance and recommendations relating to pandemic response.

The district's director of student services and pandemic liaison, Judy Bomze, updated the board of school directors during their meeting this week on the district's response to a COVID-19 outbreak within district buildings, which the district said is defined as three or more positive cases within 14 days among students and/or staff in a single classroom or core group, such as a sports team or band.

A presentation Bomze made during the board meeting can be viewed here.

Fecher said that for now, neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the Montgomery County Office of Public Health are recommending a return to mandatory masking among students and staff.

Fecher urged the school community to help keep the district safe by screening students for COVID-19 symptoms each morning and to not send kids to school if they're symptomatic; take regular over-the-counter COVID-19 tests; and get vaccinations and booster shots if you have not already done so.

"Thank you again for your ongoing support and cooperation over these past two years, and for your efforts in keeping our students and staff healthy for the remainder of the 2021-2022 school year," Fecher wrote in his message.

The CDC offers a COVID-19 webpage that offers information by U.S. county.

Currently, Montgomery County is in the 'Low' community level for transmission.