COVID hits Garnet Valley High School

The Garnet Valley School District is reporting a case of COVID-19 at the high school. District Superintendent Marc Bertrando sent a letter this morning that the Chester County Health Department was notified. Chester County is taking the lead in COVID matters because Delaware County does not have its own health department.

Middle and high school students in the district began the school year online and just went hybrid this week. According to Bertrando’s message, the district learned of the positive test this morning. The last time the student was in school was Wednesday but might have been symptomatic then.

“This is our first student who has tested positive while attending school, and we will work with CCHD throughout the day and weekend to ensure everyone's health and safety. As the weeks progress and positive cases present in our schools, staff and students will be notified if they are deemed to be close contacts,” the superintendent said.”

Because of privacy laws, neither the student’s name nor grade can be released. However, the CCHD will investigate, identify anyone who may have come in close contact with the student and notify specific people — staff and other students — who may need to quarantine.

This is the first positive case for a Garnet Valley student testing positive while attending school but, Bertando said the district was prepared and “and has specific plans and protocols in place that will greatly enhance the Health Department’s ability to contact trace and subsequently mitigate any potential spread.”

In a brief telephone interview, Bertrando said the district is not looking to shut the schools down and have students resume virtual-only classes. He reiterated that the district was prepared for this to happen.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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