Derry Area school closure extended after additional positive virus cases

A closure of Derry Area Middle and High School is extended through the rest of the week because five more coronavirus cases were reported, according to Superintendent Eric Curry.

The district on Tuesday began a two-day closure after there were six positive virus cases at the building during the previous two weeks. That will remain in place now that there are 11 cases, according to a letter posted on the district website Wednesday.

In-person classes will resume Monday.

Schools around the region, including Norwin and Hempfield Area, have been grappling with virus-related closures this week and during the entire school year.

At Derry Area, the extended closure will allow for continued contact tracing and cleaning at the school, Curry said. All middle and high school students will do remote learning on Thursday and Friday.

Sports and extra-curricular activities are canceled through Saturday. Instruction at Grandview Elementary School was not affected and will continue in-person.

New positive case numbers appear to be dropping in Westmoreland County after weeks of increases since mid to late March, according to state department of health data. On Wednesday, Westmoreland County saw an additional 53 cases, its fourth-lowest total in the past month. Its seven-day daily average of new cases fell to 84, the lowest since it was 82 on March 23.

The county remains in the “substantial” community transmission designation. The state department of education recommends districts use full remote learning or a blended model that combines in-person and virtual instruction when such a designation is in place.