Milford Super: Be Coronavirus Safe As Schools Set To Reopen

MILFORD, MA — Milford Public School Superintendent Kevin McIntyre has a simple message for parents, students and residents: continue heeding coronavirus safety protocols because students are coming back to school.

For the first time since the pandemic began last March, all school buildings will soon be fully open on Milford. The town's three elementary schools reopened in full on April 5, and Milford High School and Stacy Middle School will reopen fully on April 26 after the district's week-long April vacation.

The district has seen cases spike following previous vacation weeks, McIntyre said at Thursday's School Committee meeting. It is vital parents and students wear masks and keep social distancing in mind during the break, he said. When schools reopen, students will be at the state's minimum social distance standard of 3 feet, although health officials believe 6 feet or greater is typically safer.

The full return of students also comes as Milford remains on the state's list of high-risk communities for coronavirus spread. On April 8, Milford was adding 33.4 new cases per day per 100,000 people; the town's positive test rate was 5.85 percent. To drop off the high-risk list, Milford's positive test rate would need to fall below 5 percent. The state will next update those figures on Thursday.

In the week ending April 2, 11 Milford students tested positive for COVID-19, and 55 were placed in quarantine, according to the district. A total of 283 students and 44 staff have tested positive for the virus so far this school year.

On top of masks and distancing, Milford will also ramp up pooled coronavirus testing this week beginning in the elementary schools, McIntyre told the School Committee.