EAST PROVIDENCE — Emerging from a self-imposed hiatus over the Thanksgiving Holiday in an attempt to thwart the rise in COVID-19 cases affecting the district, positive results still continued to stream in as East Providence schools reopened for in-person instruction this week.

Superintendent Kathryn Crowley received word from the Rhode Island Department of Health late Tuesday evening, Dec. 1, of two positive results for students and one from a staff member at East Providence High School. The building was closed the following day for what has become the standard cleaning/disinfecting practice. EPHS was open for in-class instruction Thursday, Dec. 3.

Thursday was turning into a busy one for the administration as the DOH notified the superintendent a seventh grade team and four teachers at Martin Middle School would enter quarantine due to exposure to the coronavirus and close contacts.

Later in the afternoon of December 3, Superintendent Crowley received a report that a student at Orlo Avenue Elementary School and a member of the custodial staff had tested positive. The pupil’s class and two teachers were also entered into quarantine due to contact tracing.