Emlen Elementary School in East Mount Airy closes temporarily due to multiple COVID cases

The entire school will be deep cleaned and disinfected before it is reopened for students and staff on Friday, 9/24.

PHILADELPHIA - Emlen Elementary School will be forced to temporarily close until next week following a COVID outbreak, according to a letter to parents and students.

The school located on Chew Avenue will be closed from Monday, 9/13 to Thursday, 9/23 to help stem the spread of the virus. The students will learn virtually during the closure.

"If your child shared a classroom with any student or staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19, you will be contacted directly by the PDPH and/or the School District with important information, including the need for your child to quarantine," the principal wrote in the letter said.

The entire school will be deep cleaned and disinfected before it is reopened for students and staff on Friday, 9/24.

"A very rapid transmission link to the school. We want to protect the integrity of the school and not have additional positive cases." Gail Carter-Hamilton with the health department said.

The outbreak comes early in the school year and among children under 12 not eligible for the vaccine.

Carter-Hamilton says children exposed at the school will be urged to quarantine for ten days.

Meanwhile, the School District of Philadelphia is pressing its vaccine mandate for staff. In a letter, the District tells staff if they are partially or not vaccinated by Sept. 30, they "will be able to maintain their employment at this time", but must "submit to a covid test two times a week."