Webster CSD reports multiple cases of COVID-19

Superintendent Gumina: ‘I think it is realistic to expect that we will see additional cases in the foreseeable future’

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Multiple members of Webster Central School District have recently tested positive for COVID-19. Superintendent Carmen Gumina shared the latest news update publicly on the district’s website under “Reopening & Coronavirus Info” on Oct. 16 at 3 p.m.

WCSD community members who have tested positive for the virus include a Webster Thomas High School student, three Webster Schroeder High School students, and a Spry Middle School staff member.

The Thomas student was last on WCSD campus grounds back in March. One of the Schroeder students last attended school on Oct. 7, and the other two last attended on Oct. 8. The Spry staff member was last in school on Oct. 8 as well.

“As I shared with all district families earlier this week, we were notified by the Monroe

County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) that a few members of our district community have recently tested positive for COVID-19,” Superintendent Gumina says in the opening paragraph of his Oct. 16 letter to WCSD families.

“While not unexpected, I do understand that hearing this news can be unsettling,” says Gumina.

Although these cases were contracted by members of the WCSD community, Gumina says he doesn’t believe they originated within any of the district’s school buildings.

“I would suspect that based on the science behind infection, contact tracing results (not only here in Webster, but throughout our region), and Dr. Mendoza’s guidance, these cases are occurring outside of our buildings,” Gumina writes.

According to Gumina, the district has been upholding its strict masking, social distancing, and hand sanitizing safety protocols, so he believes “there is no further need to quarantine additional people (other than immediate family members) even when a student or staff member tests positive.”

“As a reminder, exposure is defined by the CDC as being in the presence of someone with COVID-19 for a period of time greater than 15 minutes, without a mask, and closer than six feet,” writes Gumina.

That’s not to say that these will be the last of the COVID-19 cases to emerge from within the WCSD community.

“I think it is realistic to expect that we will see additional cases in the foreseeable future,” Gumina writes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers Public Health Guidance for Community-Related Exposure on its website.

The district reminds families to keep their children at home if they are experiencing any symptoms associated with COVID-19, such as fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, nasal congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea.