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Dozens of students in Plum SD ordered to quarantine after attending non school-sponsored dance

PLUM, Pa. — More than 150 students in the Plum Borough School District have been ordered to quarantine at home for 14 days by the Allegheny County Health Department.

The Plum students, as well as some students from Ohio, attended a parent-sponsored homecoming dance last weekend in Westmoreland County.

The quarantine was ordered after the school district learned a student who attended the dance at Five Pines Barn in Irwin had tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the district, masks were not required at all times and social distancing was not maintained during the dance.

The district added, “Due to the participants attending this event, the ACHD is unable to provide contact tracing.”

It’s unclear if this was due to the age of the students or a lack of cooperation from their families.

Some parents expressed concern during Tuesday’s Plum Borough school board meeting.

“Just a shame the school had to deal with the blowback from parents who couldn’t take any time out for their kids to miss a homecoming dance. But my 75-year old mother with M.S., I can barely see her because I’m worried about people acting like that,” said Tyler Freeman.

Other parents are frustrated by the information that’s been released.

“I was one of those parents who allowed my daughter to go to the dance. Mental health is a reason I let my daughter go to the dance. And maybe, the district should check their facts about what happened at that dance because several ‘facts’ were incorrect,” said John Anderson.

County officials told Channel 11 the state has the authority to issue a citation to Five Pines Barn.

If you have additional questions, please call your child’s healthcare provider or the Allegheny County COVID Hotline at 888-856-2774.