6 covid cases in 8 days spur closure of Northside Catholic school

Six covid-19 cases linked to Northside Catholic Assumption Academy in the past eight days have prompted administrators to close the campus until May 6, officials said Wednesday.

Administrators did not specify whether the newly confirmed coronavirus cases involved students, teachers or other staff or people affiliated to the school.

The school serves students in preschool through eighth grade in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood.

“Understanding the challenges that covid-19 and this closure will present for our families, it is in the best interest of our school to take every precaution possible to keep our students, teachers, staff and school community as safe as possible,” Northside Catholic Principal Rosanne Kwiatkowski said in a statement. “Our priority is their safety.”

All classes will be held virtually through the middle of next week.

The plan is to reopen the Brighton Heights campus for in-person classes on Thursday, May 6.

The weeklong closure is in line with Pennsylvania Department of Education guidelines during the coronavirus pandemic, according to diocesan officials.

State guidelines take into account positive covid cases linked to a particular school as well as levels of spread in nearby communities over a two-week period.

In a letter to parents, Kwiatkowski assured families that those identified as having been in close contact with the individuals who tested positive have been notified, per contact tracing procedures.

Officials continue to regularly deep-clean buildings, require social distancing whenever possible and follow all local and federal health directives, the diocese said.