Students quarantined after positive case in Bessemer

By CHARITY SMITH

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Bessemer — Four students at Washington Elementary have been placed on quarantine after a classmate tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

“They are in a cohort group so the kids that were sitting next to the (infected) student, we’re having them just go virtual,” said Dan Niemi, superintendent of the Bessemer Area School District.

Niemi said that contact tracing was done and, upon the recommendation of the health department, those four students will be out of the building until March 8.

“This has become so routine that it really doesn’t even phase us much. ... It is just like routine now,” said Niemi. “It’s like, ‘Yep we’re living during the pandemic.’ (Quarantining students and temporarily switching to a virtual platform) has become as routine as washing your hands after using the bathroom.”

Another student at A. D. Johnston Junior and Senior High School is also being quarantined. According to Niemi, the student is involved in an outside organization and is showing the signs and symptoms of the virus. Niemi said that student should also be able to return to in-person learning on March 8.