Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,
We want to inform you that we have had 21 positive cases of COVID-19 in our school community in the past few days - from Thursday, December 16 through today, Tuesday, December 21. The positive cases include individuals who are vaccinated and unvaccinated. We are in the process of contact tracing and will be communicating with all students who are identified as close contacts. In addition, we are in close communication with county of San Mateo health officials and the San Francisco Archdiocese regarding this situation.
We are all aware of the significant increase in cases throughout the region due to the Omicron Variant. We cannot overemphasize the importance of protecting yourself and the community as the situation continues to unfold in the coming weeks. The California Department of Public Health recommends:
Vaccination and Boosters: Public health agencies across the Bay Area urge everyone eligible to get vaccinated and, if eligible, get a booster shot right away to protect against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Wear Masks: Individuals should always wear masks in indoor public places such as grocery stores and movie theaters, regardless of vaccination status. Everyone must wear a mask on public transit, including airports, planes, trains, buses and stations.
Get Tested: You should immediately get tested for COVID-19 if you are feeling any symptoms – regardless of your vaccination status. COVID-19 symptoms can feel like a common cold including just "the sniffles,” seasonal allergies, or flu. During the Christmas Break, Serra will continue to offer testing through Virus Geeks at the parking structure on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is free and open to all family members. If a student tests positive, please immediately notify us at covid@serrahs.com.
Stay Home if Sick: Stay home if you are feeling sick.
We thank you for your partnership in helping to keep our community safe. As we continue to see an increase in cases, we want to remind our community to follow the guidelines if your son becomes positive or is identified as a close contact. The notifications should be taken seriously so that as a community we can work together to reduce the transmissibility of this variant on our campus.
While we are aware that the ongoing issues associated with the pandemic continue to be exhausting, and are particularly challenging as we enter the Christmas holidays, we are committed to walking together to ensure ongoing support for your sons and one another.
Sincerely,
