Staff reports 10:52 a.m.
Friday, November 20, 2020 10:53 am

Rochester Middle School is mostly in remote model, but some students continue to receive services there. (Courtesy photo).

ROCHESTER - Rochester School officials announced today there has been a positive case of COVID-19 identified at Rochester Middle School.

According to a statement, the individual was participating in the targeted, in-person learning at Rochester Middle School and is now self-quarantining in accordance with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols.

The individual will be able to return to school in approximately two weeks, as long as they have been cleared by DHHS to do so. Under state and federal privacy laws, no further information is available about the individual.

At this time, one targeted learning team at Rochester Middle School will be quarantined and engage in remote learning for the next 14 days out of an abundance of caution. The affected individuals have been contacted and sent instructions about remote learning. Remote learning for this group will continue until Dec. 4.

Though the majority of Rochester students transitioned to fully remote learning earlier this month, the district provided an opportunity for some students to receive services at a school if needed.

The district is actively working with and following guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The district will be working with DHHS to identify and contact all close contacts of the positive individual. Those who are identified as a close contact (anyone who was within 6 feet of the infected individual up to two days prior to the positive test result) will be contacted by DHHS and required to quarantine for at least two weeks.

Specific quarantine plans will be provided to those affected. Those families and staff will be directed to get tested and keep themselves or their children quarantined until 14 days following their last possible exposure. If you do not receive a call from DHHS, this means you have not been identified as a close contact and you are not required to quarantine.

Officials reminded parents that if they or their child are currently quarantined, they must remain in quarantine for 14 days, even if their test is negative since symptoms can present up to two weeks after exposure.