Bangor Superintendent Reports COVID Case at Mary Snow School

Bangor's Superintendent of Schools says they have a single, confirmed case of COVID-19 at Mary Snow School.

Interim Superintendent Kathy Harris-Smedberg says notifications went out over the holiday weekend to anyone who may have been exposed to the virus. All close contacts of those people will need to quarantine at home. In addition, they should monitor for COVID symptoms, like a cough, shortness of breath, or a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone connected to Mary Snow School, who does not receive an email is not required to quarantine.

It's scary news for anyone, but for parents it prompts the question about whether to send your kids to school or keep them at home. Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any concerns, and speak with the principal. Harris-Smedberg said in a media release that 'Bangor Schools have done exceedingly well keeping students safe, thanks to the efforts of all.' She said it's important that parents and students, alike, continue to practice safety precautions.

At the end of November, it was reported that 5 Bangor schools had confirmed a total of 8 cases of COVID-19. Those schools included Bangor High School, the William S. Cohen school, Fruit Street school, Downeast School, and Mary Snow School. A decision was made, at that time, to transition Bangor High School and Mary Snow School to all-remote learning, temporarily. All other schools continued with in-person learning.

Last week, Harris-Smedberg issued a reminder to families about the requirements for anyone traveling out of state for the holidays, including testing family members within 72 hours of arriving back in Maine. More information can be found on the Bangor School District's website and on the Maine CDC's Travel Updates page.