Two positive COVID-19 cases at Riverside Intermediate School, 6 staff members quarantining

Late Friday afternoon Manchester Community Schools reported a positive COVID-19 case at Riverside Intermediate School, the first positive case in the district. Sunday afternoon they reported a second.

According to their COVID-19 Dashboard, it was reported that both positive cases are among staff members and that 6 total staff members are now quarantining; 5 from Riverside and 1 from Klager Elementary. According to the dashboard, no students are currently quarantining.

Superintendent Brad Bezeau stated in a letter to families that in working with the Washtenaw County Health Department this weekend, they’d identified any close contacts and those individuals have been contacted. A close contact is defined as an individual who was within 6 feet of a positive case for 15 minutes cumulative (with or without a mask). 

Bezeau also stated in the letter that all positive cases of COVID-19 must be reported by the school district to the district staff and all families within 24 hours of notification and that they will continue to keep everyone up to date and notify the community of any positive cases and potential building and district movement to all-virtual instruction.

When asked if there was a specific number of positive cases or a percentage of students and/or staff  in quarantine that would trigger all virtual instruction, Bezeau stated, “With regards to potential movements to all-virtual instruction in the district or in a particular building, we would consider this movement if we could no longer implement the required safety protocols and procedures in our Manchester Community Schools Preparedness and Response Plan and any subsequent requirements and order from The State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and The Washtenaw County Health Department.”

The dashboard is located under the heading “COVID-19 Updates” on the home page of the district website. The district will continue to update and maintain the dashboard with any positive cases by school week and by building, as well as with the number of students and staff that have been quarantined by The Washtenaw County Health Department. 

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.