MCSD reports 7 new positive COVID-19 cases among teachers, students. Here’s latest data
Muscogee County School District reported seven new positive COVID-19 cases among students and faculty on Monday.
For the week of Sept. 21 through Sept. 25, MCSD reports four positive cases among its 30,826 students. Student cases account for both online and in-person instruction models.
Fifty-seven students are either in self-quarantine or isolation, according to MCSD.
Three positive cases were reported among the district’s 5,175 employees. Sixteen employees are in self-quarantine or isolation.
“Totals within each data set reflect active cases reported to the District within the specified week of each report,” MCSD said in a news release. “Student cases account for both in-person and virtual instruction models. All active cases are monitored in coordination with the Department of Public Health to prevent the spread of illness.”
Total enrolled students | 30,826 |
Student positive cases | 4 |
New student self-quarantine or isolation cases | 57 |
Total employees | 5,175 |
Employee positive cases | 3 |
New employee self-quarantine or isolation cases | 16 |
The district reported two active cases among students last week and none among employees. Fifteen students were reported to be in self-quarantine or isolation last week, as were 17 employees.
Whether students must self-quarantine depends on factors such as when the exposure occurred, the duration of the contact and distance between the individuals. DPH defines a coronavirus outbreak at a school as two or more cases within a 14-day period that are linked, meaning they have a common exposure or have been in contact with each other, and don’t share a household and weren’t identified as close contacts to a case in another setting.
MCSD plans to identify everyone potentially exposed to the infected person. Contact tracing will be conducted in collaboration with local officials from the Georgia Department of Public Health and the school district’s pandemic response team if an individual tests positive for COVID-19.
After conducting the first month of the fall semester with online-only classes, MCSD implemented its choice model, allowing families to select in-person classes or remaining with virtual instruction.
In the first phase of the reopening, which started Sept. 14, students whose families chose in-person instruction in prekindergarten through second grade, sixth grade, ninth grade and self-contained special-education classes have returned to their school buildings.
The second phase of the reopening started on Sept. 21, so all students whose families chose in-person instruction could return then. Approximately 42% of the students who have a declaration on file selected in-person classes, MCSD superintendent David Lewis told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email.
“The District will continue to monitor data regarding COVID-19 within our local community, under the advisement of our public health agencies,” the release said.
