North Hills reports 2 new covid-19 cases at high school, still plans return to hybrid learning

Two additional teachers at North Hills High School have tested positive for covid-19, but the high school still plans to return to hybrid learning on Monday.

The teachers were last in school on Friday, Oct. 30, district officials said in a statement. Though the cases were announced at the same time, they are not connected, the statement said.

The statement didn’t identify the infected individuals other than to say they are teachers at the high school.

The high school was closed last Wednesday through Friday and remote instruction was used, according to the statement.

District officials said the Allegheny County Health Department reviewed the details of each case, and said it is safe for high schoolers and staffers to return to hybrid learning on Monday, as scheduled.

“As Dr. Mannarino explained during Thursday’s school board meeting and in his video update earlier this week, the majority of the cases among NHSD students and staff members are not being contracted in our schools and this holds true today,” the statement said. “As a result, no action by the district is necessary. Our health and safety plan is solid, Hybrid is working and our schools are safe for our students and staff.”

Students and parents who are not comfortable with hybrid learning can join their classes remotely, the district said.

There are currently nine active covid-19 cases at the high school, according to a tracker created by the district to post updated information about coronavirus.

As of Saturday, there were a total of 13 active cases of covid-19 in the district. Of those, seven are student cases and six are staff cases.

Altogether, 23 people have tested positive for the virus.

There have been 14 total cases at North Hills High School, three total cases at North Hills Middle School, two total cases at Highcliff Elementary, one case at Ross Elementary, and three total cases at West View Elementary, the tracker shows. No cases have been reported at McIntyre Elementary.