Warwick Schools Report Warwick Veterans COVID-19 Case

WARWICK, RI — An unknown number of Warwick Veterans teachers, students and staff will soon be taking advantage of 14 novel coronavirus test sites tracking infections among schools as the district reports an “individual” Warwick Veterans COVID-19 case  during its first week of in-person learning.

Sheila Reynolds Sanzi, an administrator of the Community of Warwick Schools Facebook page, posted the body of an email sent Saturday to parents and staff at Warwick Veterans Middle School.

The email alerted readers that the RI Department of Health had received word that a person at the school had tested positive for COVID-19. It did not say whether the person was a student, teacher or staff member, a point of information a few people worried about in the more than 100 comments the post gathered by late Saturday night.

Sunday, Superintendent Phil Thornton confirmed the report, saying it would not affect the district’s plan to return all schools to in-person learning. Thornton declined to disclose whether the person diagnosed with COVID-19 is an adult or student. He said he would not offer that information without first checking with the RI Department of Health.

Warwick School Committee Chairwoman Karen Bachus said she hasn’t yet discussed the details of the reported diagnosis with Thornton, and that the full Committee would discuss it on Tuesday. Before then, she said, it would be premature to offer an opinion about the issue.

The district began limited in-person learning late last month at three school buildings deemed to have sufficient ventilation to reduce risk of infection from students, teachers and staff physically interacting with each other during the pandemic, without the protection of a vaccine or effective treatment.

Everyone who had close contact with the person who tested positive will be contacted by the R.I. Department of Health with information and instructions regarding quarantine guidelines. Even those who have not experienced symptoms should still carefully self monitor, stay home, and notify the school and their doctor, according to Warwick Schools announcement about the diagnosis.

“Even if a student or staff member at Veterans is not a close contact, you should watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone with symptoms should stay at home from school and notify the school and contact their healthcare provider. Staff and students with symptoms can call the testing scheduling service at 844-857-1814 to schedule a test. The spaces used by staff and students will have a deep cleaning done before any staff and student returns to Veterans School.

On October 3 the RI Department of Health was notified that an individual at Veterans School tested positive for COVID-19. Everyone who had close contact with the person who tested positive will be contacted by the R.I. Department of Health with information and instructions regarding quarantine guidelines. Even if a student or staff member at Veterans is not a close contact, you should watch for symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone with symptoms should stay at home from school and notify the school and contact their healthcare provider. Staff and students with symptoms can call the testing scheduling service at 844-857-1814 to schedule a test. The spaces used by staff and students will have a deep cleaning done before any staff and student returns to Veterans School.

Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.