Quarantines in place as two test positive at separate Rochester elementary schools

Individuals at both School Street and William Allen schools are quarantining per CDC protocols. (Courtesy photos)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Schools Superintendent Kyle Repucci announced on Monday that they'd been informed of single positive cases of COVID-19 at both the School Street and William Allen schools.

The two individuals tested positive for the coronavirus and are self-isolating in accordance with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol, according to Repucci, who said the individuals will be able to return to school in about two weeks as long as they have been cleared by DHHS to do so.

At this time, all remaining students and staff members at the School Street School will be able to follow their normal schedules, unless they have been identified as a close contact, the release said.

One third-grade classroom at the William Allen School will be participating in fully remote learning until Monday.

As a reminder, there will be no school for all Rochester students on Friday, Jan. 29, which is scheduled to be a Teacher's Workshop day.

The district is actively working with and following guidelines from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Repucci added. All close contacts (anyone who was within six feet of the infected individual for 10 minutes cumulatively, up to two days before the positive test result) have been notified of their possible exposure to the virus and will be required to quarantine for at least two weeks. Specific quarantine plans have been provided to those affected. Those families and staff have been directed to get tested and keep themselves or their children quarantined until 14 days following their last possible exposure. If you did not receive a call, this means you have not been identified as a close contact and you are not required to quarantine.

The city schools chief reminded parents and guardians that if their child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, such as a fever, chills, respiratory illness, aches or change in taste and smell, or believe you have been exposed to someone who has contracted COVID-19, get a COVID-19 test and stay home until they receive test results.