HODGDON, Maine — SAD 70 has reported its first positive COVID-19 case, just three days into the new school year.
SAD 70 is one of the few school districts in Aroostook County where face coverings are optional. The school board voted Aug. 18 to keep masks optional, despite the superintendent’s recommendation to make face coverings mandatory, after hearing from a large number of parents. The large group of parents urged the board not to force masks for the new school year.
In a letter to parents dated Sept. 2, Superintendent Stephen Fitzpatrick said that a person associated with the school district had tested positive. The person is not a student, but is an adult associated with the district’s central administration office.
The Maine CDC or a school representative has contacted those who are identified as close contacts, who will have to isolate themselves for 10 days from their exposure to the person, regardless of a negative test, the letter says.
“So far I’m aware that only three students are impacted and in quarantine by virtue of the positive case in MSAD 70,” Fizpatrick said. “So far we have not reached a point of calling for required masking, but continue to highly recommend [masks], distance, sanitize and are reminding all each day to symptom check.”
While Thursday’s announcement is the first case reported since school began Aug. 31, it is not the first case for the district. On Aug. 18, a member of the Hodgdon boys soccer team tested positive, causing practices and games to be rescheduled.
The number of cases in Aroostook County has risen sharply over the past few days. As of Thursday, The County now had new 80 cases, and 368 overall cases — which rivals some of the peak numbers at the height of the pandemic.
