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COVID-19 case closes Portage elementary school, puts 123 students in quarantine

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Posted at 6:44 PM, Oct 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-10-26 18:45:03-04

PORTAGE, Mich. — Following a presumed COVID-19 case at Lake Center Elementary School in Portage, 123 students are in quarantine after the school announced a shift to fully remote learning for the next two weeks.

The presumed COVID-19 case impacts six general education classrooms at the school, and has put 123 students and four staff members in quarantine.

The short-term shift will allow the school to conduct contact tracing, as well as give the custodial staff time to deep clean and disinfect the potentially-infected facilities.

Superintendent Mark Bielang announced this shift to parents and guardians of children at the school earlier today in a letter.

"While we have successfully put a number of safety practices in place, we feel this move is needed to reduce the possibilty of future spread," Bielang said in the letter. "Under the circumstances, remote learning is the best way to protect our students and staff."

Bielang advised in the letter for parents with children who have symptpms to contact the Kalamazoo County Health Department at (269)373-5044, their primary doctor, and Lake Center office staff.

Barring any more positive cases, Lake Center Elementary is set to return to in-person learning on Monday, Nov. 9.