MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. — An elementary school is taking action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 after multiple students tested positive in the last 10 days.
According to a letter from Rosemary Hills Elementary School's Principal Irwin Kennedy, three or more students in one class have tested positive for COVID as of Tuesday.
Due to the rise in cases, the school is requiring students to wear masks while on campus for the next 10 days, except when eating or drinking.
"Masks will become optional against following the 10-day period," the letter reads.
The school has provided KN95 masks to students and staff in the identified classes or activities.
At-home rapid tests will be sent home to parents and made available to students as well.
"Thank you for supporting us in taking these steps to ensure staff and students remain healthy for in-person learning," Kennedy said.
Montgomery County Public Schools Medical Officer Patricia Kapunan, MD, MPH, said the uptick in cases across the country is not unexpected after the summer break when people gathered together.
"It is important that everyone continue to practice healthy habits, such as good handwashing, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick. These vital health strategies and vaccination are key prevention measures we use every day to prevent the spread of illness in our schools," Kapunan said. "For COVID-19, other measures may be temporarily introduced during outbreaks, including screening testing, distancing, and masking to control spread in a specific space where transmission is high. Multiple strategies are used, and students who cannot safely and consistently mask due to young age, a medical condition, or developmental disability are not required to do so."
READ NEXT:
- No, the CDC didn’t say a new COVID strain is more contagious among vaccinated people than unvaccinated people
- Jill Biden tests positive for COVID, experiencing mild symptoms
- No, the CDC hasn’t issued a ‘health advisory’ about the XBB COVID-19 subvariant
- No, the FDA did not approve the use of ivermectin to treat COVID-19
WATCH NEXT: Summer COVID surge looming, CDC warns
The good news is while the numbers are going up, they are much lower than the previous three summers.
