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East Kentwood High School, Freshman Campus switch to all-virtual learning after 9 COVID-19 cases confirmed

Posted at 3:58 PM, Nov 09, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-09 16:00:46-05

KENTWOOD, Mich. — East Kentwood High School will switch to all-remote learning Tuesday after school officials were notified of nine new COVID-19 cases.

Five of those nine recent cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours, Kentwood Public Schools Superintendent Michael Zoerhoff said in a letter to district families.

The Kent County Health Department recommended both the East Kentwood Freshman Campus and the East Kentwood 10-12 buildings close for the next two weeks to allow for contact tracing and deep cleaning, according to the letter.

Fully-remote learning will last until at least Nov. 20.

“We again apologize for the hardship this puts on our students, staff and families,” Zoerhoff said. “We take the responsibility of student health and safety very seriously and feel this is the best course of action at this time. The recommendation from the KCHD is intended to break and eliminate cycles of transmission and keep our EK community safe. It is important that we all continue to take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19 so we can return to offering in-person school for our students and families.”

The health department will contact those deemed “close contacts” with confirmed cases of the virus.

District officials will make a decision over the next two weeks regarding returning to in-person learning.

Read the full letter here.