April 8, 2021
Dear RSU 1 Community,
This letter is to inform our community of two items. Firstly, today another individual associated with Morse High School/Bath Tech has tested positive for COVID-19. Secondly, the CDC has determined that the Morse High School/Bath Tech Campus is on outbreak status.
As a reminder, an outbreak means that there are three or more cases of COVID-19 within a 14-day period. These cases are not epidemiologically linked. The CDC has informed us that this uptick in cases is due to community spread outside of school. There is no evidence of spread within the school building; therefore, the school will remain open to in-person learning. The Maine CDC will continue to serve as a monitoring resource. All new cases will be independently reviewed to determine if there are any connections. Outbreak investigations are preliminarily closed after a fourteen-day period without logging a new case.
With active community transmission, please monitor yourself/your student for signs and symptoms. Call a health care provider if symptoms start. It is important that you call a healthcare facility before you show up in person. As a reminder, COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ranges from mild to severe. It can be more severe in adults 60 years and older and in those with underlying conditions. The virus mainly spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and an uninfected person breathes in the virus. Signs and symptoms include:
• fever or chills • cough • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing | • muscle or body aches • headache • new loss of taste or smell • diarrhea | • sore throat • congestion or runny nose • nausea or vomiting |
Maine DOE or a school representative will contact you directly if you are identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive. For cases that have already occurred, close contacts have been asked to quarantine for 10 days from the last exposure to the positive individual. A negative test result does not get an individual out of quarantine.
Maine CDC recommends prevention measures to diminish the spread of COVID-19. These measures include proper handwashing with soap and warm water, which is especially important after using the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. When soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands and avoid close contact with people who are sick. Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. Also, remaining up-to-date on all vaccines, including those for influenza.
Questions for the school or concerns can be directed to Nurse Barter at kbarter@rsu1.org. For general COVID-19 questions, dial 211 (or 1-866-811-5695). You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or email info@211maine.org. Call a health care provider for questions about your symptoms. More information can be found at the Maine CDC Resources Page or at the CDC COVID-19 Information Link.
Sincerely,
Patrick M. Manuel, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools