The Galeton Area School District, which has been teaching students remotely since Nov. 10, has made the decision to remain closed due to the current number of COVID-19 cases in the community.
District officials updated the district website Monday afternoon, stating the “significant community spread of the COVID-19 virus” is the reason that face-to-face instruction cannot begin again as of yet.
Officials ask the community to help control the spread, citing preventative measures such as wearing a mask, hand washing and keeping safe physical distance. They also ask those who are sick to stay home.
“We all have to work together to keep Galeton safe,” the statement concludes.
The district had three students and one staff member test positive for COVID-19 as of Nov. 13. There have not been any announcements of new cases in students or staff members in the district since.
However, the ability to institute face-to-face instruction also depends on the positivity rate for the community where the district is located. Potter County continues to report new cases of COVID-19, with 219 cases currently, 191 confirmed and 28 probable. The county also has a percent positivity rate of 18.7%. The percent of hospital ER visits due to COVID-like illness in the past seven days is 3.6%, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
