COVID Outbreaks Detected In Lower Merion School District

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — Multiple coronavirus outbreaks have been found in the Lower Merion School District recently, according to officials.

In a letter to the community, Superintendent Khalid Mumin said the outbreaks were found via the district's COVID-19 Healthline and its rapid antigen testing program.

Montgomery County health officials define an outbreak as three or more linked cases in a core group over a 14-day period.

In most outbreaks, all students in the core group are deemed close contacts, the district said.

"Dozens, if not hundreds, of LMSD families continue to report positive cases to LMSD's COVID-19 Healthline each week," Mumin said.

The week of May 8 saw 198 student cases reported and 26 staff cases reported, the district's coronavirus dashboard shows.

The previous week had 228 student cases and 15 staff cases, per the dashboard.

When an outbreak occurs, the district notifies the Montgomery County Office of Public Health and impacted families receive the guidance and information below:

• Parents/Guardians are urged to screen their child(ren) daily for symptoms of illness. If a child has symptoms, they should be kept home and the parent/guardian should notify the School Nurse or the COVID Healthline at 610-645-1973.
• Students who are fully vaccinated and asymptomatic may attend school without restrictions; however, masking is strongly recommended for the next 10 days. Optional testing will be offered at the child's school on a designated day. Testing is also available to students each Tuesday and Thursday after school at Lower Merion High School from 3-4:30pm in the cafeteria.
• Parents/Guardians of students who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated are contacted by the School Nurse and given guidance about quarantine, eligibility for the "Mask-to Stay" (MTS) program, testing and other protocols. Students who are not fully vaccinated or who are unvaccinated must quarantine at home or participate in the MTS, which has specific requirements for masking and testing.
• Students who exhibit any symptoms of illness in the outbreak cohort will be considered probable positives and will be required to isolate at home for five days. They may return to school on Day Six, with the requirement that they wear a mask consistently and correctly through Day 10.
• Again, rapid antigen testing is available to students at school between 4-6 days after exposure. Parents/guardians must contact the school nurse to arrange for testing and must consent via the form in PowerSchool.

The district encourages students to get fully vaccinated and booster shots for the coronavirus.

Parents should report positive cases among their children by contacting the COVID Healthline by at 610-645-1973 or healthservices@lmsd.org.

"We appreciate your consistent reporting, as it allows our nurses to quickly assist you, identify cases or outbreaks and take appropriate actions in compliance with the MCOPH guidance," Mumin said. "Thank you for your ongoing vigilance as we endeavor to end this school year in a safe and healthy way."