Middletown High School To Reopen After Coronavirus Outbreak

MIDDLETOWN, RI—Middletown High School is scheduled to reopen Tuesday following two weeks of remote learning due to a sudden increase in coronavirus cases.

The outbreak and closure were results of an October party involving over 20 Middletown High School students. As of November 3, 10 students had tested positive for coronavirus and were forced to quarantine for two weeks.

According to a statement released by Superintendent Rosemarie Kraeger following the incident, those who attended the event were not social distancing or wearing masks, resulting in hundreds of people being forced to quarantine.During the two weeks of remote classes, the school was disinfected and prepared to welcome students back with the goal of preventing the spread of the virus inside and outside the school district.

Middletown High School is also beginning to take precautions regarding the upcoming holidays, offering information and resources to students and parents on the district's website to try to prevent the spread of the virus.

"If you intend to travel out of state during the break, please contact your school principal to discuss placing students on a remote learning plan during any period of mandatory quarantine," Kraeger wrote in a November 12 letter to parents. "I trust that you will make sound judgments regarding your holiday plans this year keeping in mind the health and safety of your loved ones and our entire school committee."

Rhode Island continues to experience an increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, reporting 481 new positive cases and five deaths on Monday. As of last week, the state had a 3.9% positivity rate, up from 3.3% the week before.