Three School Districts Suspend In-Person Classes Due to COVID-19 and Other Illnesses
In a span of a short period, three school districts have decided to suspend in-person learning due to a surge in illnesses among students and staff members, including cases of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections.
Two school districts in Kentucky have taken this step, announcing the closure of in-person classes for the week. Magoffin County Schools, one of the affected districts, revealed that widespread illness among both students and staff prompted the closure of all schools on Thursday and Friday. The decline in attendance over the past week, coupled with the presence of various viruses such as COVID-19 and influenza, were cited as reasons for the decision.
Three School Districts suspended in-person Classes Due to COVID-19 and Other Illnesses
Similarly, the Lee County School District in Kentucky has experienced a rise in respiratory illnesses in recent days, resulting in a significant drop in attendance. As a response, the district has implemented illness-related closures for Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by non-traditional instruction days on Thursday and Friday.
Scott Lockard, the public health director for the Kentucky River District Health Department, which oversees multiple counties including Lee County, pointed out that illnesses tend to increase when schools reopen and large gatherings resume after a break. He noted that the county witnessed a substantial level of illness, leading to the school system’s decision to close.
Although confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported through lab tests, influenza cases have not been confirmed. However, Lockard emphasized that respiratory illnesses share overlapping symptoms with COVID-19, making accurate diagnosis challenging. Furthermore, the availability of testing has decreased, with more individuals resorting to home tests, which may not be as accurately reflected in official reports.
Three School Districts suspended in-person Classes Due to COVID-19 and Other Illnesses
Another affected district, the Runge Independent School District in southern Texas, serving around 195 students, has announced a one-week closure due to illness. The district’s online COVID-19 tracker indicated that a portion of its staff had tested positive for COVID-19.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data on COVID-19 cases is outdated due to the increasing reliance on at-home tests, which often go unreported. Recent wastewater testing, however, has indicated a significant rise in virus levels over the past two weeks.
The CDC has reported a cumulative total of 1.1 million deaths and 6.3 million hospitalizations attributed to COVID-19. The agency has observed a recent surge in both deaths and hospital admissions, with a notable increase in the most recent week of available data. Forecasts from the CDC also predict a rise in hospital admissions related to the coronavirus in the coming weeks.
Three School Districts suspended in-person Classes Due to COVID-19 and Other Illnesses
To protect oneself and others, experts recommend maintaining social distancing, staying home when symptoms arise, practicing frequent handwashing and hand sanitization, and covering coughs and sneezes. Staying updated on COVID-19 and influenza vaccines is also crucial. The article concludes by highlighting the impact of absenteeism on education, as chronic absenteeism continues to pose challenges even after the pandemic-related closures, leading to declines in academic performance among students.