New London — The New London school district plans to continue in the hybrid model and by the end of the month assess whether increasing the number of in-person classes per week might be an option.

The call to remain in the hybrid model has the backing of Ledge Light Health District. Students participating in the hybrid model currently are attending two days a week and parents are now being surveyed about their thoughts on a possible increase in classes.

Superintendent Cynthia Ritchie on Thursday said that in the four weeks since schools reopened, a total of 13 cases of COVID-19 were reported in the district among staff and students — six of those cases were among distance learners. The district is responsible for reporting COVID-19 cases among distance learners in order for Ledge Light Health District to conduct contact tracing.

The number of cases is low, considering the fact that there are more than 4,000 students and staff in the district, Ritchie said. As of this week, 62% of elementary students, 68% of middle school students and 64% of high school students have opted to participate in in-person classes.

“More students at home are contracting COVID-19 than what is happening within our buildings,” Ritchie said.

To date, four students attending in-person classes have tested positive for COVID-19, along with three staff members. Three of the cases were reported at Harbor Elementary School, which prompted that school to move to full distance learning for two weeks. A staff member that contracted the coronavirus led to closure of one classroom at Nathan Hale Arts Magnet School earlier this week.

And while the state Department of Public Health this week issued an alert for the city of New London because of rising COVID-19 numbers locally, Stephen Mansfield, director of health for Ledge Light Health District, said data show the schools remain safe for students.

The low transmission rate in schools, Mansfield said, is in part a testament to the work done behind the scenes to prepare procedures and protocols for the reopening of schools and the ability of Ledge Light to find and quarantine anyone in close contact with people who have contracted the virus.

Mansfield appeared at the school board meeting on Thursday to discuss current trends and said it is the regional numbers and not the local data that should be driving decisions in the schools. Between Sept. 20 and Oct. 3, New London saw 115 new cases, raising the daily case rate to 30.5 per 100,000, among the highest in the state. New London County saw 19.7 new cases per 100,000 between Sept. 27 and Oct. 3., the highest in the state.

DPH statistics show that the spike in new cases is greatest among the 20-29 and 30-39 age groups, followed by the 10-19 and 40-49 age groups.

Board member Lee Cornish-Muller asked Mansfield what the threshold is for pushing schools into full distance learning. He said county-level data that shows a rate of between 10 and 25 cases per 100,000 would support a hybrid model, though circumstances at individual schools help drive different local decisions.

“We fully support continuing in that hybrid model,” Mansfield said. “Community-based transmission is really what we’re seeing on a day-to-day basis. It’s not institutions. It’s not in schools. It’s really people getting together in the community. It’s safe to say that our schools, especially the New London schools, are actually safer for students than to be out in the community because the rate of transmission is so much greater in the community.”

When asked about how the community can combat behavior that is leading to the uptick in cases, such as not wearing masks, Mansfield said it was a “daunting task” for municipalities and health officials whose resources are focused on things like contact tracing and testing.

Among school board members supporting the continuation of in-person classes is Board of Education President Regina Mosley, who revealed that her mother, father and one of her two daughters has tested positive for COVID-19.

“It’s important that we recognize even though New London County numbers are up, the safest place for kids to be is in school. That’s my opinion. What’s happening in the community is where the numbers are rising,” Mosley said. “What we need to do now as a community is educate.”

As of Friday evening, the state reported that the county has seen 2,487 confirmed cases of COVID-19, up by 54 since data was released Thursday, and 83 probable cases, an increase of one. The county has seen 96 confirmed deaths associated with the disease as of Friday, one more than what was reported Thursday. Hospitalizations related to the disease in the county declined, from 27 Thursday to 25 Friday; Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London reported that it's treating 11 COVID-19 patients Friday. The state next will release data on Monday.

Health officials continue to reiterate that the most important ways to stop community spread of the virus remains wearing a mask, socially distancing and limiting gatherings.

Day Staff Writer Brian Hallenbeck contributed to this report.

g.smith@theday.com