Johnstown Elementary School Closes Due To COVID-19 Outbreak

Pioneer Ridge Elementary School in Johnstown, which serves students grades K-5, has been shut down until October 12 in response to a recent COVID-19 school outbreak.

Information regarding reports of multiple positive COVID-19 test results among students and staff and the temporary school closure went out to the entire Pioneer Ridge Elementary School community last week.

In a Sept. 30 post on the Weld RE-5J School District's Facebook page, district officials said that they received “multiple positive tests from families, students and staff that affect every child and staff member that attends Pioneer Ridge Elementary,” which resulted in the school-wide closure.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website says that a school-wide outbreak is called if one or more of the following criteria is met:

• In schools practicing cohorting, three or more classrooms or cohorts with cases from separate households that meet the classroom/cohort outbreak definition that occurs within 14 days
• In schools not practicing cohorting, two or more confirmed COVID-19 cases from separate households with onset within 14 days in the same school (cases can include student, teachers, and other staff)
• 5% or more unrelated students/teachers/staff have confirmed COVID-19 within a 14-day period (minimum of 10 unrelated students/teachers/staff)

The Greeley Tribune said that The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment has been in contact with the Weld RE-5J School District, and is working with the district to provide recommendations and guidance to protect the health and safety of those who have been exposed to COVID-19.