Wilton School District’s one-week transmission rates have doubled week over week. Superintendent Kevin Smith trusts in the district and town’s high vaccination numbers.
Hearst File PhotoWILTON — In response to a doubling of one-week transmission totals in the schools, Superintendent Kevin Smith said the district is “recommending, but not requiring” individuals wear masks during certain times.
The recommendation, which started this week, applies to certain afterschool activities and events.
Smith said Monday that the district has “seen a rise in COVID activity in the last several weeks.” From May 2 to May 6, the district saw a one-week total of 62 cases, its highest since Jan. 21. The following week, ending on May 13, that number had more than doubled to 126, its highest one-week total since the week of Jan. 3 and its second-highest one-week total of the school year.
He said the district will recommend masking for some activities, such as concerts and the school musical, where many people are congregated together in one setting.
The school musical, a performance of Legally Blonde, will run through May 21 and welcome parents and family into the Clune Center.
However, Smith contends that the district’s best weapon is one that has been in place for some time now: its high vaccination status.
“As you know, Wilton has a very high vaccination rate and I believe that has served us well,” Smith said.
As of May 11, about 96.1 percent of Wilton’s residents eligible for the vaccine received at least one dose, 86.8 percent are fully vaccinated and 54.7 percent are fully vaccinated and boosted, according to statistics compiled by the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
“We are maintaining the protocols that have been in place for the last couple of months,” said Smith, “ and continue to participate in regular conference calls with epidemiologists from the state Department of Public Health.”
The district currently has 88 students and 23 staff isolating at home due to positive test results. An additional five students are isolating due to being deemed “in close contact.”
Those students who are “otherwise well but quarantining as a result of COVID” are still eligible for remote learning. For other students feeling ill, Smith said, “our belief all year has been if a student is sick, then the student should take a sick day.”
He also looked forward to the upcoming graduation ceremony for the Class of 2022, estimating that the ceremony would feel “pretty typical” compared to the past few years.