Schools see postThanksgiving bump in COVID cases,

GREENWICH — The Greenwich Public School district has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases in a twoweek stretch since the start of classes this fall.

Since the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, the district has reported 53 cases, affecting nine different schools, according to its tracker. The new cases bring the tally since the start of the school year to 150 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. And since the start of December alone, there have been 40 cases in Greenwich Public Schools, for an average of nearly four cases per day.

The data mirrors the post-Halloween bump in the school district when, from Oct. 30 to Nov. 13, there were 42 new cases of COVID-19 reported.

A post-Thanksgiving spike was anticipated by many health experts and school administrators. Many public school districts shifted to a fullremote learning model around Thanksgiving because of the virus, or because of ensuing teacher shortages. And still more have made the switch in the weeks since.

Administrators at Greenwich Public Schools have said repeatedly that transmission data supports the idea that students are safer in class, as opposed to at home. As of Friday, just two of the district’s 150 reported cases were traced back to in-school contact.

Of the 26 active cases in the district, Greenwich High has the most, with seven, followed by Glenville School, which is reporting four. Cos Cob, Hamilton Avenue and New Lebanon schools are each reporting three cases. There have been two cases recorded at the International School at Dundee. And Central Middle, Julian Curtiss and North Mianus schools each have a single active case. One staff member who works at multiple Greenwich Public Schools locations is also among the active cases.

Of the current cases, 19 are among students, the district said.