Nashoba Tech reports positive virus test

School officials confirmed a school community member’s test.

WESTFORD » A “school community member” at Nashoba Valley Technical High School tested positive for the coronavirus, but was not in close contact with anyone else at the school, Super

intendent Denise Pigeon announced Monday in a letter to parents.

“We are doing absolutely everything that we can to make sure that our students and staff are safe,” Pigeon said Tuesday. “We have very strict procedures in place. We have a very strong setup to keep folks safe, and we are following all of the protocols.”

In a letter to parents, guardians and caregivers, Pigeon said school officials have also coordinated with the Westford Board of

Health to conduct the contact tracing process, based on COVID-19 guidelines set by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

A close contact is defined as being within 6-feet of the positive person for at least 15 minutes while the person was infectious.

Pigeon did not specify whether the person who tested positive is a student, teacher or other staff member.

“We determined that no students or staff were in close contact with this community member while at school and no action was needed,” Pigeon wrote in the letter. “Our student

body and staff have been adhering to the safety protocols including mask wearing, hand washing, and physical distancing.”

While Pigeon assured members of the district’s School Committee that the situation is under control, she reiterated the importance of staying home if a student or staff member displays any symptoms of the coronavirus.

“We are grateful to our families for their continued efforts to keep students home at the first sign of symptoms. These measures, taken in combination, greatly reduce the risk of additional transmission,” Pigeon stated.