Kent School District closes two classrooms at Cedar Heights due to COVID-19

The Kent School District has closed two classrooms at Cedar Heights Middle School in Covington due to COVID-19.

“As of Dec. 13, two classrooms are closed on the recommendation of Public Health,” according to the district’s COVID-19 dashboards. “Otherwise, the building is open and offering in-person instruction to students in the remaining classrooms. The school contacted all impacted families of the closed classrooms on Dec. 13. The classrooms will reopen after winter break on Jan. 3.”

Winter break begins on Dec. 20, with Dec. 17 the last day of school.

Cedar Heights is at 19640 SE 272nd St. Several Kent School District schools are in cities outside of Kent as district borders are different than city borders.

This is the first time district has closed two classrooms at a school. The district has closed a classroom at schools since classes began in August. The district has not fully closed any schools. Students in a closed classroom switch to remote learning.

The district considers closure of a classroom after consultation with Public Health — Seattle & King County Public Health when:

• Two or more students or staff in the same room/area test positive for COVID-19

• The cases have symptoms that start within 14 days of each other

• The cases are not associated with one another in another setting (household, club, etc.)

A COVID-19 outbreak in a school is considered when the following have been met:

• There are two or more COVID-19 cases among students or staff.

• The cases have a symptom onset or positive test result within a 14-day period of each other.

• The cases are epidemiologically linked.

• The cases do not share a household.

• The cases are not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during the investigation.