NOVI, Mich. (WXYZ) — The superintendent of Novi Public Schools announced Wednesday that five high school students have tested positive for the coronavirus, which has prompted the high school to switch to online-only classes for the remainder of the week.
"The Oakland County Health Division has been contacted," wrote Novi Superintendent Dr. Steve Matthews in a letter to parents and students. "They are conducting contact tracing. Students who may have been in close contact with the student who has tested positive will be contacted by the Oakland County Health Division. If your son or daughter is not contacted, it means that the Health Division does not believe that your daughter or son was in close contact."
In a voice message sent to parents, the district announced that Novi High School will hold virtual classes on Thursday and Friday of this week as a precaution. No other schools in the district are affected by this announcement.
The district affirms that they don't believe the students were exposed during the school day, adding that they believe students are more at risk when not at school.
"It is when students are not at school that their risk seems to increase. Riding in a car, for example, with other students who are not family members increases risk especially if masks are not worn. Social gatherings with friends, who are not family members and where masks are not worn, increases the risk. The exposure risk we are currently seeing is not occurring at school, but in activities that occur outside of school.
Some parents may be tempted to switch from hybrid to virtual. We will not be approving those requests. We have safe schools. Our protocols are sound. As mentioned, the exposure risk we are seeing is not occurring within our buildings, but in activities happening outside of school."