Wellesley High Goes Remote Through Thanksgiving After Virus Spike

WELLESLEY, MA — Wellesley High School students will be taking virtual classes through Thanksgiving after the school reported eight new COVID-19 positive cases since Oct. 30.

Six of the new cases were reported on Wednesday. This brings the total number of cases reported in Wellesley High School throughout the school year to 14.

The district issued a statement to the community on Wednesday detailing the plan to switch to remote learning and bring students back to in-person learning on Dec. 1. The district is conducting contact tracing and notifying close contacts to quarantine. All WHS Athletics will be cancelled for the remaining days of Fall.

To ensure all students have access to breakfast and lunch during this transition, the food service department will create an on-line order system for all High School students.

"While we recognize that this news is disappointing, we are also reassured that we were able to identify these cases rapidly to stop any further transmission," the school district and town health department said in a joint letter to the community, "It remains critical that we each do our part to stop the spread of the virus including wearing masks at all times, social distancing, handwashing, and avoiding gatherings. "