Westwood Summer School Staffer Tests Positive For The Coronavirus

WESTWOOD, MA — A Westwood Public Schools staff member working with students in the summer school program tested positive for the coronavirus.

The staff member was initially told her test was negative but later found out she tested positive.

The district opened Downey Elementary School and Westwood High School for in-person summer school classes for the Extended School Year special education programs. The staff member was at Downey Elementary School, which has since closed for cleaning.

Superintendent Emily J. Parks issued a statement about the situation:

"We share the community’s concern that a staff member in our summer program has tested positive for coronavirus. We want to emphasize that her exposure to students was limited to a three-hour block, during which time she was properly outfitted with PPE. We want to recognize the diligence of the Westwood Public Health Department for its quick action to conduct contact tracing, which enabled us to immediately call those families whose students were in close contact with the staffer."

In a letter to families, Parks said the staffer started to feel sick on July 3 and had a COVID-19 test done, staying home while she waited for the results. When the results came back negative, she went back to school on July 13 but received a call that same day saying the results were a mistake and that she tested positive. The woman went home immediately.

Students and families were notified of the staff member's condition and the Westwood Public Health Department contacted all students and adults who may have been in direct contact with the staff member.

The district did not say whether the summer program would be suspended or moved to remote-learning. Parks ended her letter to families with, "We will use today’s situation as an opportunity to learn as we contemplate the fall reopening plan."

You can reach Samantha Mercado at samantha.mercado@patch.com