FRAMINGHAM – One Framingham High School mom has received a dozen notifications of her child in close contact with a COVID positive student in the last 24 hours. All came since Framingham High was dismissed Thursday, December 23 for the holiday break.
Another parent has received 9 notifications since 7 p.m. on her child being a close contact with a COVID positive student.
A third parent has received 6 notifications since 6 a.m. today, December 24 that her child was a close contact with a COVID positive student.
School may be closed for vacation break, but the district’s new covid-19 communication policy is still happening.
“In response to an increase in positive COVID cases, we are piloting a communication strategy that will provide notification to all families of a classroom-level exposure to COVID-19,” announced the public school district on December 14.
Since the start of the school year, there have been almost 600 cases of COVID reported in the district.
But 409 of the district’s 590 total cases have been reported since the Thanksgiving break, with 158 new cases at Framingham High since Thanksgiving.
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“Whether your child is vaccinated or unvaccinated, you will receive an email notification if there is a COVID-19 exposure in your child’s classroom. If your child is unvaccinated and identified as a close contact, you will receive an additional email notification. This is because unvaccinated individuals are at a greater risk of getting and spreading COVID-19 and getting seriously ill. Please be sure your school has your most current email address on record,” wrote the district on December 14.
This holiday-shortened week, there were 111 cases in the school district, with 50 at Framingham High.
In the last week, the City of Framingham’s COVID cases have increased by 53%. There are now 660 active cases in the City of Framingham.
Framingham has also seen a significant surge in cases since Thanksgiving.
SOURCE emailed the Mayor and the City’s health Director Alex DePalo on Wednesday on what steps the City of Framingham has been taking to curb the spread the virus in the City of Framingham since Thanksgiving.
As of today at 11:30 a.m. no response to numerous emails.
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SOURCE also asked Mayor Spicer and the health director if they plans to implement a Mask mandate in the City of Framingham or a vaccine requirement like the Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston or out-going Mayor Joe Curtatone in Somerville.
Superintendent of Schools Bob Tremblay has changed his COVID communication policy and closed down some classrooms until after the holiday break to help curb the spread of the virus since Thanksgiving.
He issued a video to families on the importance of wearing masks, and reminded families to talk to their students on how to wear a mask correctly in the schools.
The Framingham High athletic department has cancelled some games and meets, and as of this week, only families can attend games or matches, until after the holiday break.
More than 100 cities and towns were given free rapid COVID test kits to distribute to help stop the spread of CVID during the Christmas season by the Baker-Polito administration. Framingham was one of them.
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Lowell distributed its kits on December 17. Boston, Worcester, Everett, Lawrence, etc all distributed its kits this week before Christmas.
Handing out free rapid at-home COVID-19 antigen tests is one way Massachusetts is trying to combat the holiday surge. “I understand the whole family wants to stay together on Christmas, but the more important thing is to keep safe,” said Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena to NBC10 Boston.
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MetroWest Medical Center