Cape High student tests positive for COVID-19

A Cape High student who tested positive for COVID-19 is doing well with only mild symptoms and did not contract COVID-19 at school, district officials said in a Sept. 23 statement.

“We understood that there would be positive cases during the school year, and followed the district and state plan to notify families,” the statement read. “More importantly, the district has safety procedures and protocols that were implemented and strictly followed to mitigate possible exposure when positive cases occur.”

Officials said the student will not return to school until the 14-day quarantine period has passed. Social distancing and mask-wearing were practiced consistently, officials said, and the Division of Public Health advised that no further quarantining by staff or students is warranted.

Only close contacts of the person who tested positive are required to quarantine, the Delaware Department of Education states. 

DOE protocol states that if a student who tested positive sat three feet away from another student for more than 15 minutes but was wearing a mask the whole time, the student next to the positive case would not need to quarantine. 

If a student tests positive and sat less than six feet away from another student for more than 15 minutes and did not wear a mask, the student next to the positive case does need to quarantine, DOE states.

Additionally, if a teacher tests positive but has consistently worn a mask and was not closer than six feet for more than 15 consecutive minutes to any students, then students do not need to quarantine.

DOE said it is unlikely that an entire class will need to quarantine, or an entire school would shut down in the event of a positive case, unless social distancing and mask requirements were not adhered to.

Gov. John Carney’s 25th modification to the state of emergency, which went into effect Aug. 27, states that schools must notify parents/guardians if the school becomes aware that a person who tested positive was in the school building at the same time as students.  

Cape school board voted Aug. 6 to begin the 2020-21 school year under a remote/hybrid model. Students in prekindergarten through fifth grade had the choice to attend in person five days a week or be completely remote. Students in sixth through 12th grade could attend in person two days a week or be completely remote.