SHS, SRTC, SMS, CJL, MCS COVID Cases Announcement 11.25.20

November 25, 2020

Dear Faculty, Staff, Students and Families,

This letter is to inform you that additional individuals associated with our schools have recently tested positive for COVID-19.  Affected schools include Sanford High School, Sanford Middle School, Carl J. Lamb School, Margaret Chase Smith School and Sanford Regional Technical Center.  Maine CDC and school representatives have notified all known contacts of these individuals.  As I have stated before, all close contacts are required to quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure to the positive individual.  A negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine.

I must stress that COVID-19 community spread is on the rise.  All of these positive cases are traceable to close family members or relatives outside the school community, which means our school safety precautions are working. Even though we are currently on Thanksgiving break, please be mindful and do your best to limit the people you come in contact with outside of your household. My wish is for everyone to celebrate this holiday break but in a healthy manner.  Please wear masks, social distance, sanitize your hands regularly, and continue to monitor yourself and your family members for symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start.  Together our preventive steps can protect the health of our students, school personnel, and the Sanford community.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe.  The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus.  Signs and symptoms include:

  •   Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

Questions for the school can be directed to your building administrator.  For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695).  You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org.  Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms.  More information can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/coronavirus or www.cdc.gov/coronavirus .

Sincerely,

Matt Nelson, Superintendent of Schools