WESTPORT — A “sudden rise” in the number of COVID-19 cases at Saugatuck Elementary School has prompted school officials to ask state health authorities to review the situation.

Testing for the virus among all Saugatuck students and staff is “strongly” recommended this week as a result.

As of Wednesday, 15 COVID-19 cases have been identified at the school over the last week, Supt. of Schools Thomas Scarice reported in a Wednesday evening email to Saugatuck families.

Scarice noted that a sharp rise in the number of cases in a short period of time could be classified an “outbreak” of the virus.

The superintendent added, however, “there appears to be very limited transmission within the school as new cases span multiple grades and classrooms.”

As a “proactive” measure,” he said, the state Department of Public Health was asked to review the Saugatuck cases and the school’s mitigation measures.

The DPH review, which included the state epidemiologist, “affirmed that community transmission [i.e., after-school activities, large community social events, etc.] has likely contributed to the recent rise in cases at SES,” Scarice said.

“As a result, it appears that in-school mitigating measures have been effective,” he said. “DPH only recommends school closures if there is an inability to staff the school.  This is not an issue at this point in time” at Saugatuck school, he added.

The DPH, however, did recommend that to ensure early detection of more COVID cases and to blunt further spread at Saugatuck school, a round of testing be conducted for all of the school’s students and staff.  

In response, testing will be held Friday, Oct. 1, administered by the school district’s testing partner, Progressive Diagnostics.

Children whose parents have already consented to the school district’s voluntary COVID testing program will be included in the Friday tests.  

Parents who have not consented for their children to be included in the voluntary testing program are “strongly encouraged” to complete the school testing student consent form by the end of Thursday, Scarice said.

This school testing link offers information about Westport public schools’ voluntary testing program.   

For parents who want their child to be tested only this Friday and not the weekly screenings, email the health office staff so the child’s name can be removed after the Friday testing.

Across the entire Westport school district, according to its daily COVID dashboard, as of Wednesday a total of 23 people (students and staff) are confirmed COVID-19 cases and are isolating, while 102 people are in quarantine.