Johnston superintendent delivers COVID-19 school data update

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After an initial outbreak at Winsor Hill Elementary, Johnston Schools are reporting low rates of COVID-19 infection among students and staff.

“This evening I’m going to present a report on how we’re doing in terms of the COVID pandemic,” Johnston Schools Superintendent Dr. Bernard DiLullo Jr. said at last Wednesday’s School Committee meeting. “I do have the case numbers in Johnston as of Oct. 19, 2021 … from the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH). I’ll go through each school.”

DiLullo detailed the number of cases reported at each school, by staff and students, over the past seven days and just prior to the beginning of the school year, on Aug. 29.

He began with the Brown Avenue Elementary School at 14 Brown Ave.

“Brown Avenue, in the past seven days, had fewer than 5 cases,” DiLullo told the School Committee. “Since Aug. 29, they had fewer than five cases, and they had zero teacher cases.”

The Early Childhood Center attached to the Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School experienced similar infection case rates.

“Early Childhood Center, in the past seven days has had zero cases,” DiLullo said. “Since Aug. 29, they had fewer than five cases. In the past seven days, they’ve had zero teacher cases. And since Aug. 29 they’ve had fewer than five teacher cases.”

The Graniteville Preschool at 6 Collins Ave. has also reported very few cases so far this year.

“The Graniteville School, in the past seven days, has zero cases,” DiLullo said. “Since Aug. 29, they’ve had fewer than five cases. In the past seven days they’ve had zero teacher cases. And since Aug. 29, they’ve had zero teacher cases.”

The Sarah Dyer Barnes School at 24 Barnes Ave. has reported only a handful of cases.

“Sarah Dyer Barnes, in the last seven days, has had fewer than five cases,” DiLullo said. “Since Aug. 29, they’ve had fewer than five cases. And there have been zero teacher cases since Aug. 29.”

The Thornton Elementary School at 4 School St. has reported just slightly higher infection numbers.

“Thornton Elementary School has had fewer than five cases in the past seven days,” DiLullo said. “They’ve had 5-9 cases since Aug. 29, and they’ve had zero teacher cases since Aug. 29.”

The Middle School has been successful at helping to keep case numbers low.

“Nicholas Ferri has had zero cases in the past seven days,” DiLullo said. “Again this is from Oct. 19. They’ve had 5-9 cases since Aug. 29. And they’ve had zero teacher cases, both in the last seven days and since Aug. 29.”

The High School, at 345 Cherry Hill Road, has had fewer than 10 total cases since school began.

“Johnston Senior High School in the past seven days has had zero cases,” DiLullo said. “We’ve had 5-9 cases since Aug. 29. They’ve had zero teacher cases, both in the last seven days and since Aug. 29.”

DiLullo discussed Winsor Hill Elementary School last. The school, at 100 Theresa St., experienced an early outbreak, which led to a one-day closure at the school on Tuesday, Sept. 14.

The number of infections at the school, however, has been going down ever since.

“Winsor Hill has had zero cases in the past seven days,” DiLullo told the School Committee. “Since Aug. 29, Winsor Hill has had 20-24 cases. They’ve had zero teacher cases in the past seven days, and they’ve had fewer than 5 teacher cases since Aug. 29.”

DiLullo sent out a special thanks to a pair of school nurses who helped to contain the September outbreak at Winsor Hill.

“I also want to thank Valerie Jacavone and Lori Autiello for their work at Winsor Hill,” DiLullo said last Wednesday. “They’ve been spending many long hours contact tracing since that school was hit particularly hard with positive cases, in addition to their work. The regular school nurse has been absent from her job because of medical issues. They both have gone above and beyond their duties. So I thank both Valerie and Laurie.”

Jacavone serves as the primary nurse at Graniteville, and helps to lead the district’s nurse cohort. Autiello serves as a district nurse, and co-chairs the district-wide nurse’s group.

DiLullo also offered an update on the hiring process for a distance-learning teacher, whose chief responsibility would be to help keep students out on quarantine on-track until they can return to school.

At our last meeting I proposed that we hire a distance learning teacher for students who are on quarantine,” DiLullo told the School Committee. “We have been successful in doing that. That teacher will be starting on Nov. 8, to work with students who are on quarantine.”

DiLullo clarified the current quarantine guidelines in the school district.

Currently the quarantine status in Johnston is seven-day quarantine, depending on when the student tested positive, or when they showed symptoms,” he explained. “So, it’s seven days. After the fifth day students can get a test. If the test is negative, they can return after the seventh day. If they don’t get a test, they are required to stay out for 10 days.”

The district has been following guidance from the Rhode Island DOH.

Roughly half of eligible students in the district have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

As far as vaccination rates go, Johnston High School, as far as eligible students, 55.4 percent of our eligible students have been fully vaccinated,” DiLullo said. “And at Ferri Middle School, 49 percent of our eligible students have been vaccinated.”

State and local officials are eagerly awaiting new vaccination guidance for students under 12 years old.

DiLullo informed the School Committee that the district has set a tentative date for a second school vaccination clinic.

“The tentative date is scheduled for Nov. 10 from 5 to 9 p.m.,” DiLullo said. “There will also be a flu vaccination clinic held on Oct. 28 and Nov. 18 at the Ferri Middle School from 4 to 7 p.m.”

Early Thursday morning, DiLullo contacted the Sun Rise with some updated COVID-19 counts in some of the town’s schools.

“These are numbers from the opening of school Sept. 1,” DiLullo wrote via email Thursday. “Winsor 30, Brown 3, Early Childhood 2, Thornton 8, Ferri 15 and Barnes 4.”

When asked about numbers at the High School, DiLullo responded just before deadline.

“The high school had 10,” he replied.

Editor’s Note: The Rhode Island DOH was also expected to release new data sets this week. Watch for an update in next week’s edition.

Booster Doses

The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued guidance regarding COVID-19 vaccination booster shots.

“Booster doses of Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J COVID-19 vaccines are available for eligible people in Rhode Island,” according to the DOH. “Eligible Rhode Islanders who received two doses of Pfizer or Moderna for their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine can get their booster doses at least six months after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna. Eligible Rhode Islanders who received Johnson & Johnson (J&J) for their primary series can get their booster dose at least two months after their first dose.

For more information on eligibility and booster doses, visit covid.ri.gov/boosterdoses.

Rhode Islanders can find appointments by vaccine type at VaccinateRI.org.

If you need help making an appointment, call 844-930-1779. Appointments are recommended and can help reduce your wait time.

Source: RI DOH

Virus Testing

COVID-19 testing is available at test sites in your community and in Pre K-12 schools. There is no cost to participate in COVID-19 testing at a State-run test site or in school. Insurance is not required. 

Schools and districts have developed their own testing programs based on RIDOH’s recommendations. Contact your child’s school or district if you have specific questions about their testing programs, guidance, or protocols.

Source: RI DOH

Brown Avenue School

Johnston

0

Fewer than five

0

0

Early Childhood Center

Johnston

0

Fewer than five

0

Fewer than five

Graniteville School

Johnston

0

Fewer than five

0

0

Johnston Senior High School

Johnston

0

5 to 9

0

0

Nicholas A. Ferri Middle School

Johnston

Fewer than five

5 to 9

0

0

Sarah Dyer Barnes School

Johnston

Fewer than five

Fewer than five

0

0

Thornton School

Johnston

Fewer than five

5 to 9

0

0

Winsor Hill School

Johnston

0

20 to 24

0

Fewer than five

Source: RI DOH

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