School system sees increase in COVID-19 cases

The coronavirus is making it more difficult to keep students in school for in-person learning.

The Stephens County school system reported on Friday, Sept. 3, that 104 students had been quarantined between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3.

The Sept. 3 numbers also identified 24 staff members testing positive and 69 students testing positive for COVID-19 during the week.

That's the most quarantines and positive cases the school system has reported so far this year.

School interim superintendent Bryan Dorsey on Tuesday, Sept. 7 confirmed the increases.

"We've definitely seen an increase in student and staff cases as reported to DPH (Department of Public Health) by the system," Dorsey said. "We monitor the numbers daily and try to take action through quarantines to reduce compounding exposure."

The positive cases more than doubled for staff members from the report for the week prior (Aug. 21-Aug. 27) when 10 staff were reported testing positive.

The student population almost doubled its positive cases also with 36 reported as testing positive for COVID-19 from the week prior.

"Some cases have delayed testing results and can cause spikes during any particular day and/or week," Dorsey said. "We also are monitoring on-set illness dates to watch for any trends."

The recent numbers also are more than the amount at about the same time in 2020. 

On Aug. 28, 2020, the school system reported that 78 students and 14 staff members had been quarantined, with two staff and two students reporting testing positive for the coronavirus.

This year, the school system somewhat loosened requirements for quarantines due to the majority of students from 2020-2021 who had been exposed never testing positive for COVID-19.

The new policy requires quarantines after clusters – two or more positive cases – are identified within a classroom.

The policy in 2020 was more strict requiring anyone exposed to a positive testing person to be quarantined.

While 283 students were reported last week as having been exposed to the virus, the new cluster policy required only 104 of those to be quarantined.

The weekly update from the school system does not indicate how many staff members are quarantined.

With enrollment totaling 3,862 students, last week's report indicated 1.8 percent of the student population had tested positive for COVID-19 the week of Aug. 28-Sept. 3.

School staff testing positive for the Aug. 23 - Sept. 3 week was at 4.3 percent of the 558 total school employees, according to the weekly report.

School system deputy superintendent Matthew Thompson said on Sept. 1 that the identified clusters were at Big A Elementary School, the 5th Grade Academy, and at Stephens County Middle School.

Dorsey said that school staff are doing their best to keep students  protected and in school.

"We remind everyone that if you are sick (or in a home with an illness) please do no return if you have any doubts that the illness might be caused by COVID-19," Dorsey said.