Out of what they call an abundance of caution Cathedral Catholic High School’s first day of class has been delayed for one week.
The school had planned to open this coming Monday. But a notice was sent to parents Wednesday stating that “due to a COVID-19 related situation that has affected multiple stakeholders on campus, we have no choice other than to delay the start of school.”
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Kevin Eckery, the spokesperson for the Diocese of San Diego, confirmed to KPBS that a staff member had tested positive following a staff orientation.
That person has no symptoms, but they had contact with several others. On the advice of the county health department, the school determined 10 additional staff needed to isolate.
“In the course of isolating people there simply wasn’t enough of the right staff to open school on time,” Eckery said.
He said CCHS’s new start date is Monday August 23.
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However, in-person orientation for new students will go on as planned this coming Tuesday.
Eckery said he has full confidence that the school year will be a successful one. He said that last year they had fewer than 200 positive cases out of 15,000 students attending Catholic schools in the diocese.
“Only four people managed to catch COVID at school. So all the work we were doing with social distancing and masks in school really paid off.”
About 20 Catholic schools in the diocese are scheduled to start school Monday. Eckery said COVID measures will remain at the forefront.
He also said they are following the state’s new vaccine policy and encouraging all staff to get vaccinated.
“I can't think of a more Christian or Catholic thing to do, but to keep the needs of friends of family and vulnerable strangers in mind,” he said.
