2 Detroit Students Test Positive For Coronavirus: District

DETROIT, MI — Two students attending in-person summer classes with the Detroit Public Schools Community District have tested positive for the coronavirus, district officials confirmed.

The district said 274 kids were tested by the Detroit Health Department, with two students returning positive tests for an infection rate of around 1 percent.

“Again we would like to thank the Detroit Health Department for working with us to provide rapid testing to students and families who chose the option of face-to-face summer school," said Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, Detroit Public Schools Community District. "We are committed to transparency and upholding the guidelines outlined by health authorities and the Center for Disease and Prevention. We will continue to work closely with the Detroit Health Department as we complete summer school and prepare to re-open in the fall. Our priority is to meet the needs of our families as we navigate this pandemic."

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The tests were ordered Tuesday, after a federal judge ruled that summer school for the district could continue if all students attending were tested.

Parents of the students, as well as those who were in close proximity, are being notified to self-quarantine for 14 days and to monitor for symptoms of the coronavirus. Students who have tested positive will continue summer school through online learning.

The Detroit Health Department has also begun contact tracing and DPSCD is working to clean and disinfect the school and the school bus, per the protocol outlined in the reopening plan and in accordance with local public health guidelines. Any student who has received a test for the coronavirus will be allowed to return to the building on Monday.

The district said it will also provide online summer school for any student who tests positive. The Detroit Health Department has also agreed to test all school staff.

As the district works to reopen for students in the fall, officials said it will continue working in partnership with the Detroit Health Department to ensure students or staff who may test positive also receive free testing for their families, free of charge.

“Infection rates are low, which is consistent with rates across the City,” said Denise Fair, chief public health officer with the Detroit Health Department. “This is what I would have expected. We are not seeing clusters and at this point, this does not suggest school spread. We will continue to partner with Detroit Public Schools Community District to ensure the health and safety of students.”