Remote Learning At 2 Norwalk Schools As Coronavirus Cases Rise

NORWALK, CT — Two Norwalk schools will remain on remote learning models to Nov. 2 after several positive cases of the coronavirus were discovered last week among members of the schools' community, according to Norwalk Public Schools officials.

Brien McMahon High School, and the Center for Global Studies which is inside the Highland Avenue-based school, were closed Friday and Monday to allow for contact and exposure tracing, officials said in a post on the district's Facebook page.

Those schools will remain closed but with remote learning for the next two weeks. Kendall School also was on remote learning protocols on Monday but returned to in-person schooling on Tuesday, officials said.

How many members of the Brien McMahon and CGS community, and whether they were students, staff or both, were not disclosed.

"As you know, NPS has comprehensive health and safety protocols in place," district officials wrote. "Most of the exposures reported recently at McMahon and CGS did not occur in our building, but still have an impact on our schools. Remaining on remote learning through November 2 will allow time for any pending or upcoming COVID test results to be completed, and any additional confirmed cases to be reported."

Connecticut is in the midst of an increase in COVID-19 cases, prompting state officials to place several communities in the state on "red alert" status. Norwalk is on "yellow alert," because the city also has seen an uptick in coronavirus cases since last weekend.

According to Mayor Harry Rilling, Norwalk reported 68 new COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday, bringing the total to 2,588 since the pandemic began earlier this year. No new deaths were reported.

"There is not one apparent cause or event that can be blamed for the recent rise in COVID-19 cases," Rilling said. "At this point we can safely say community transmission is happening in Norwalk. We have to be extra vigilant to slow the spread of this virus. That means doing our best to limit non-essential trips to a store, trying to only have one person per house go out for an errand, and never forgetting to wear a face covering and socially distance. Our positive cases are rising, as they are across the state and across much of the country. We are back to seeing numbers in Norwalk that we had in April. I encourage all of us to stay focused, be extra cautious, and not lose sight of the fact that this virus is very contagious. Every resident has to take precautions now to try and slow this virus down otherwise things will become much worse as we head deeper into the fall and winter."