Coronavirus Cases Closes 4 Norwalk Schools Past New Year's Day

NORWALK, CT — Four Norwalk schools have switched to all remote learning until after New Year's Day due to coronavirus (COVID-19) cases causing staffing shortages because of quarantines and contact tracing efforts, according to district officials.

The buildings at Ponus Ridge Middle School; Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School; grades 4 and 5 at Silvermine at Jefferson Annex; and Wolfpit Elementary are all closed to Jan. 4.

Three other elementary schools, Cranbury, Fox Run and Jefferson at Ponus, also have been placed on remote learning schedules to Dec. 21, according to officials.

"Unfortunately, due to the number of staff members now quarantined, we are no longer able to effectively operate these buildings," district officials wrote on Facebook. "The variation in return dates reflects different factors, such as when someone received a positive test result or when someone with a now confirmed case was last in a building."

Norwalk and other Connecticut communities have seen a surge in COVID-19 cases in recent days and weeks, with the city reporting another 70 cases as of Wednesday. The number of coronavirus cases in Norwalk since the pandemic began has reached 5,188, according to Mayor Harry Rilling.

Statewide, more than 150 communities, including Norwalk, remain on red alert status for the virus, meaning the rate of infection is above 15 case per 100,000 people.

"As we head deeper into the colder months and into the winter holidays, it is critically important residents continue to take precautions and follow public health guidelines," Rilling said. "We have all grown tired of this virus, but letting down our guard will only make things worse. Our cases, and unfortunately hospitalizations around the state, continue to rise."

For more information on coronavirus testing and other mitigation efforts in Norwalk, click here.