COVID

Mass. reports 541 new COVID-19 cases among students, 397 among school staff across the state

The weekly update from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education only reflects coronavirus cases reported to the state by public school districts.

By Ainslie Cromar

January 21, 2021

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Massachusetts officials are reporting 541 new positive coronavirus cases among students and 397 new cases among staff at public school districts across the Bay state.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released its weekly report Thursday on COVID-19 in schools, which only reflects confirmed coronavirus cases reported by districts to state officials between Jan. 14 and Jan. 20. Being more than three and a half months since the state began releasing the data, this week’s new report brings the combined total of cases among students to 4,772 and 3,576 among staff.

The data reflects cases reported at charter schools, collaboratives, and approved special education schools, though it excludes any COVID-19 diagnoses for students learning in fully remote models. The numbers also exclude any diagnoses for “staff that have not been in district buildings during the seven days prior to the report of the positive case.”

According to the state, the districts reporting more than 10 cases include:

Braintree (16 among students and 6 among staff), Easton (8 among students and 4 among staff), Fall River (13 among students and 12 among staff), Falmouth (13 among students and 2 among staff), Milton (12 among students and 7 among staff), Needham (6 among students and 5 among staff), New Bedford (19 among students and 19 among staff), North Attleborough (9 among students and 3 among staff), Plymouth (12 among students), Quincy (11 among students and 10 among staff), Waltham (5 among students and 9 among staff), Watertown (10 among students and 6 among staff), Wellesley (7 among students and 5 among staff), and Westwood (15 among students and 2 among staff). 

The Crystal Springs School for children and adults living with severe-to-moderate physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities, located in Freetown, reported eight positive cases among students and 10 among staff. The Boston Higashi School in Randolph also reported 10 positive cases among students and 9 among staff. 

View the full report from the state here.