Northwest Middle School to Close for Two Days Due to COVID-19 Outbreak
Due to the number of positive cases and close contacts associated with the COVID-19 outbreak at Northwest Middle School, the Carroll County Health Department is working with Carroll County Public Schools to temporarily close all in-person learning at this school for two days beginning Tuesday, September 21, through Wednesday, September 22 and to provide testing to identify any additional cases.
“We believe this action will limit further transmission among students and staff and expedite returning the maximum number of students to in-person learning as quickly as possible,” said Health Officer for Carroll County Ed Singer. “We want to reduce the impact of this outbreak on the school system and the community.”
The Health Department will provide an on-site mobile unit on Wednesday, September 22, from 8 am – 1 pm at Northwest Middle School to test students and staff from Northwest Middle School and feeder schools, including Elmer Wolfe, Runnymede, and Taneytown Elementary and Francis Scott Key High Schools. Testing will be by appointment only; call 410-876-4920 on Tuesday, September 21 between 8 am and 5 pm to make an appointment. Please note that this number has changed.
This testing site is only for students and staff at these schools. Other people who need testing can find sites and other information at https://cchd.maryland.gov/covidtesting/
Northwest Middle School students, including those in quarantine, will attend class virtually Tuesday and Wednesday. Sixth grade students who are attending Outdoor School will participate via the Outdoor School Google Classroom. The 7th and 8th Grade Back to School Night scheduled for Wednesday, September 22, at 6:00 p.m. will now be held virtually.
The current plan is for Northwest Middle School students who have not tested positive or been quarantined to return to in-person learning on Thursday, September 23. School administration will be in contact with families regarding this plan.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in schools and in the community, parents are asked to make sure their children are following all guidance at school, wearing masks and social distancing; to keep children home if they have any symptoms; and to cooperate with contact tracers if their children are exposed or test positive. The current COVID-19 decision aid for CCPS can be found at https://www.carrollk12.org/Superintendent/CommunityMediaRelations/Pages/Coronavirus-Disease-2019.aspx.
The Health Department also recommends getting tested if you have symptoms, or a few days after a potential exposure or high-risk activity. For more information on COVID-19 in Carroll County and how to get tested, visit the Health Department’s COVID-19 website at cchd.maryland.gov/covid-19/
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Carey Gaddis, Communications Officer, Carroll County Public Schools, wcgaddi@carrollk12.org, 410-751-3020
Maggie Kunz, Health Planner, Carroll County Health Department, maggie.kunz@maryland.gov , 410-876-4924