Abner Gibbs Elementary School. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO)
WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said Sept. 30 that contact tracing was underway for an employee at Abner Gibbs Elementary School who tested positive for COVID-19.
Czaporowski said students have not yet begun classes at the school, which has no special education programs.
“We have been in close contact and are working closely with the Westfield Public Health Department,” Czaporowski said, adding, “The Health Department does not consider this to be an exposure event.”
Czaporowski said after learning about the positive test at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, all employees of Abner Gibbs were asked to telework to be safe and to allow for a deep cleaning at the school.
Czaporowski also said the Health Department will be contacting any staff members that were in close contact with the affected employee. He said close contact means within three feet with no mask for an extended period of time.
“We’re on top of it,” said Westfield Public Health Director Joseph Rouse. “It wasn’t unexpected to have cases pop up in the schools.”
“It’s another advantage to delay in person learning, so cases can come and go and resolve themselves before students return to school,” Rouse added.
