Enrollment at the high school is 1,554 students

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CRANSTON — An entire Rhode Island high school was directed to self-quarantine on Friday after a student tested in the presumptive positive classification for the COVID-19 strain of coronavirus.

The case, involving a student at Cranston High School West, was discussed in an email to parents and confirmed by Mayor Allan W. Fung.

"It has hit home," Fung said. "We’re continuing to stay on top of it and provide as much information to the public as we can and calm the fears as best we can."

The email to parents, obtained by The Providence Journal, instructs students, faculty and staff to self-quarantine at home for the next 14 days.

Enrollment at Cranston West is 1,554 students.

"I think everyone’s scattering with the possibilities and trying to connect the dots if they’ve come in contact with [the person]," said Cameron Alves, a senior at the school who had been expecting to play Saturday night in the state basketball quarterfinals, against Hendricken. That tournament is now canceled. "It’s a little bit of a panic, to be honest."

"We have to stay home for 14 days," Alves said. "If we show symptoms, we have to go to the doctor’s right away."

"I’m definitely going to have to put in some serious hours on the PS4 [PlayStation 4]. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to stay entertained."

Alves was not at the school Friday afternoon, but friends told him that they learned classes were being dismissed early, about 1:45 p.m., when an announcement was made over the loudspeaker. Soon afterward, they received an email about the positive coronavirus test.

Fung said he could not provide additional information about the student who tested presumptive positive. He learned about the case from the governor’s office, he said.

He said the city has been canceling programs. It has closed the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center and the Arlington branch of the Cranston Public Library.

Veterans Memorial Ice Rink is closed next week, he said.

And Fung won’t be traveling to a summit in Taiwan next week. He canceled the trip several weeks ago, he said.