October 8, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
With 14 new Hingham COVID-19 cases reported this week by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, Hingham remains in the moderate-risk "yellow" zone. The total number of Hingham cases since Jan. 1 is now 352, with 21 new cases reported in the last 14 days.
This is the fourth week in a row that Hingham has stayed out of the high-risk "red" zone.
Four of the total number of cases were reported in the Hingham Public Schools community since late September. Supt. of Schools Paul Austin shared in letters sent to the school community that three of the four cases (two in the overall school community and one at the Middle School) did not have close contacts in the HPS because none of them had been in school during their infectious period.
With the other case -- at Plymouth River School -- parents of students who were in close contact with the school community member who tested positive were notified privately.
All close contacts were told by Principal Melissa Smith and School Nurse Deborah Whiting in a letter sent to the PRS community that they "should be tested, but must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last exposure to the person who tested positive, regardless of the test result."
If an individual tests positive, anyone who is within six feet of that person for more than 15 minutes is considered to be a "close contact" and therefore required to quarantine for 14 days.
Town officials and school officials are watching the numbers closely. Town Administrator Tom Mayo and Austin continue to urge all residents and members of the school community to remain vigilant with their social distancing and to wear face masks to help keep Hingham out of the high-risk zone and to help keep the community healthy and safe.