Neshaminy Cancels Events Amid Coronavirus Concern

MIDDLETOWN, PA — Two events scheduled for later this week at Neshaminy High School have been canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

A senior citizens ball and a regional orchestra festival were called off on Tuesday, the same day the high school was closed after a student had contact with a healthcare worker who later tested positive for the virus, known as COVID-19.

The senior citizens ball had been scheduled for Saturday, March 14, at the high school, at 2001 Old Lincoln Hwy. in Langhorne.

Also Tuesday, Mike Lipton, instrumental music director at Neshaminy High, said that the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association has decided to cancel its regional orchestra festival, which had been scheduled for March 12-14 at the high school, "due to the evolving COVID-19 situation."

On Tuesday afternoon, district officials announced that Neshaminy High would reopen on Wednesday.

"In addition to our cooperation with the Bucks County Health Department, we have also received advice and information from Bucks County Emergency Management," said Superintendent Joseph Jones. "These experts have advised us that our best defense is to control personal transmission through good hygiene, proper hand washing and staying home when sick. Education can help reduce the anxiety we feel and empower us to make calm, informed decisions."

The school was closed as a precaution Tuesday at the request of the Bucks County Health Department, school officials said.

During the closure, the school was to be thoroughly cleaned.

Though the student had showed no signs of the virus, that student and two family members have been asked to voluntarily quarantine after coming into contact with the doctor, a cardiologist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's facility in King of Prussia.

That doctor is now in critical condition.

Neshaminy School District has created a page on its website providing updates related to the coronavirus outbreak.