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Roundup: Further School Reopenings Fuel Outbreaks Across the Country

By September 8, 2020No Comments

Hot Spots Ignite in College Communities

1,400 Infections at the University of Iowa

More Than 20 Outbreaks in Michigan K-12 Schools and Colleges 

As the President tries desperately to relegate the pandemic to the rear-view mirror, outbreaks at schools — as more start to reopen — continue to highlight that the virus is out of control. Cases are popping up at both colleges and K-12 institutions, forcing students to isolate and facilities to close. Meanwhile, 190,000 people have lost their lives, and the virus shows no sign of slowing. 

Here’s a roundup of the coverage of school outbreaks:

The Virus Continues to Spread on College Campuses, Even Sparking Outbreaks in Surrounding Communities.

Coronavirus Infections Are Spiking In Some Counties Where Students Make Up Ten Percent Of The Population.

  • “Now, Iowa City is a full-blown pandemic hot spot — one of about 100 college communities around the country where infections have spiked in recent weeks as students have returned for the fall semester. Though the rate of infection has bent downward in the Northeast, where the virus first peaked in the U.S., it continues to remain high across many states in the Midwest and South — and evidence suggests that students returning to big campuses are a major factor. In a New York Times review of 203 counties in the country where students comprise at least 10 percent of the population, about half experienced their worst weeks of the pandemic since Aug. 1. In about half of those, figures showed the number of new infections is peaking right now.” [New York Times, 9/6/20]

[New York Times, 9/6/20]

In Johnson County, Iowa, Home Of The University Of Iowa, Cases Have More Than Doubled Since The Beginning Of August, While The University Has Reported More Than 1,400 Cases Since The Beginning Of The Semester.

  • “In Johnson County, where the University of Iowa is located, cases have more than doubled since the start of August, to more than 4,000. Over the past two weeks, Iowa City’s metro area added the fourth-most cases per capita in the country. The university has recorded more than 1,400 cases for the semester.” [New York Times, 9/6/20]

Brazos County, Texas, Home Of Texas A&M University, Added 742 New Cases During The Last Week Of August, The Most Of Any Week Since The Beginning Of The Pandemic.

  • “Brazos County, Tex., home to Texas A&M University, added 742 new coronavirus cases during the last week of August, the county’s worst week so far, as the university reported hundreds of new cases.” [New York Times, 9/6/20]

East Carolina University In Pitt County, North Carolina Has Experienced At Least 846 Infections Among Students, Faculty And Staff Since Mid-August.

  • “Pitt County, N.C., site of East Carolina University, saw its coronavirus cases rise above 800 in a single week at the end of August. The Times has identified at least 846 infections involving students, faculty and staff since mid-August.” [New York Times, 9/6/20]

More Than 1,200 People Have Been Infected At Illinois State University. 

  • “In McLean County, Ill., the virus has been spreading as more than 1,200 people have contracted the virus at Illinois State University.” [New York Times, 9/6/20]

Colleges And Universities In Michigan Have Reported More Than 930 Cases Since The Start Of August.

  • “Michigan colleges and universities have reported more than 930 COVID-19 cases since the start of August, according to publicly available numbers compiled by Michigan Radio. That number is likely an undercount because many private universities do not post regular coronavirus updates on their public websites. One of the largest outbreaks in the state is at Adrian College, where college president Jeffrey Docking confirmed 131 positive cases as of last Monday. The Adrian Daily Telegraph reports the number rose to 200 cases by the end of last week, though the college hasn’t confirmed that total.” [Michigan Radio, 9/7/20]

The University Of Colorado Boulder Reported 49 New Infections, The Biggest One-Day Total Since The University Opened Late August.

  • “On Saturday morning, the University of Colorado Boulder’s online coronavirus dashboard indicated 49 people tested positive for the virus. That is by far the biggest one-day total since the university started reporting the results of on-campus testing in late August. The previous daily high was 21 cases. The spike comes a few days after university officials asked students and workers at four residence halls on campus to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Wastewater tests detected possible outbreaks at the buildings, the university announced Wednesday.” [CPR, 9/6/20]

Nearly 600 Students Have Tested Positive For The Virus At SUNY Oneonta, Forcing The School To Transition To Virtual Learning.

  • “On Thursday, Oneonta switched to remote learning for the fall semester in the wake of hundreds of students testing positive for coronavirus. As of Sunday, 597 students have tested positive, with 143 students who tested positive currently isolating on campus. Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office Sunday announced results from what the state calls a testing SWAT team that was located in Oneonta for five days.” [Times Union, 9/6/20]

148 Students At The University Of Wisconsin In Eau Claire Are In Quarantine After Nearly 70 Tested Positive For The Virus. 

  • “The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire reports 69 students have tested positive for COVID-19 as of Sunday including 17 students who live on campus in residence halls and 52 students living off-campus. Classes began at the university on Wednesday. In a press release, university officials say 148 students in six residence hall wings are in full quarantine for 14 days as a result of six of the students who tested positive possibly having had interactions with other students in their hall.” [WBAY, 9/6/20]

Eleven Cases Have Been Traced To A Fraternity Party At The University Of New Hampshire. 

  • “A cluster of Covid-19 cases has been linked to a fraternity party at the University of New Hampshire, health officials say. The state Department of Health and Human Services said Sunday that it is investigating a potential outbreak tied to a Theta Chi event last weekend. University officials said more than 100 people, including students, attended the August 29 party and few wore masks. Eleven people connected to the party have tested positive for the virus, according to university officials.” [CNN, 9/7/20]

Nearly 150 People At The University Of Wisconsin In Madison Have Tested Positive, Forcing The University To Close Facilities And Restrict Movement. 

  • “The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is ordering undergraduate students to limit their movements for the next two weeks in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s order comes as cases among students have been rising. From now through Sept. 21, all student gyms and recreational facilities will be closed, dining halls will offer carry-out only and visitors will not be allowed in dorms. The university reported Monday that 148 UW-Madison students and one employee had tested positive for COVID-19.” [Associated Press, 9/7/20]

K-12 Schools Revert to Virtual Learning, Students and Staff Forced to Quarantine as Infections Climb

The State Of Michigan Is Reporting More Than 20 Outbreaks Between K-12 And College Campuses Since Reopening. 

  • “Eleven K-12 schools in Michigan have reported new or ongoing outbreaks of coronavirus over the past week, and there also are 11 outbreaks linked to college campuses, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website. They are among 210 outbreaks included in the state’s new online outbreak tracker. The data set lists the outbreaks by region, but does not offer specific locations or additional details, such as number of cases.” [Michigan Live, 9/8/20]

Macon County R-1 Middle School In Macon, Missouri Is Transitioning To Online Learning After A Third Of Students Were Forced To Quarantine After Exposure. 

  • “Macon County R-1 Middle School has a COVID-19 outbreak. The middle school is transitioning to online learning for two weeks after several middle school students tested positive. Students will return to in-person instruction on September 22. The district said after contact tracing was completed a third of its students need to quarantine.” [KHQA, 9/6/20]

Luce Road School In Alma, Michigan Is Closing For Two Weeks Following An Outbreak Among First Graders At Luce Road Early Childhood Learning Center.

  • “In a letter sent to parents on Saturday, Alma Public Schools said that a second positive case of COVID-19 was reported within a first grade classroom at Luce Road Early Childhood Learning Center. The district said that this second case is linked to the same exposure and is being considered an outbreak. The school district is working with the Mid-Michigan District Health Department and has decided to close Luce Road School for two weeks, from the date of the last possible exposure which was September 3. Beginning Tuesday, Alma’s kindergarten and first grade students will transition to online learning, the district said. Information on device distribution and learning expectations will be announced soon.” [WJRT, 9/6/20]

Olympia High School In Orange County, Florida Is Closing For Two Weeks After Six Students Tested Positive. 

  • “A high school in Orange County is shuttering its doors for two weeks after at least six confirmed cases of coronavirus were reported at the school. Olympia High School officials posted on social media the entire school would be going back to its online learning platform after six confirmed COVID-19 cases within the school. Another case is still pending, according to the school. The school says all students will learn online from Sept. 8 through 18 just as the school did at the beginning of the year. Students who are participating in face-to-face learning will be able to return to school property Sept. 21. The school says all athletic events, extracurricular and co-curricular activities will be canceled during that time.” [WTSP, 9/6/20] 

A String Of Schools In The Pikes Peak Region Of Colorado Have Reported Infections Since Reopening. 

  • “Jordahl Elementary in Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 recorded two confirmed cases late last week, according to El Paso County Public Health department’s running tally of local outbreaks. An outbreak is defined as two or more confirmed cases within 14 days in the same facility. In Cheyenne Mountain School District 12, staff and parents received notification Friday that one third-grade student at Piñon Valley Elementary was diagnosed with COVID-19, and anyone in close contact must quarantine at home for two weeks. The cases represent the latest in a string of Pikes Peak region schools that have reopened and reported COVID-19 infections, affecting Academy School District 20, Monument School District 38, Woodland Park School District RE-2 in Teller County and others.” [Colorado Springs Gazette, 9/7/20] 

Valley Regional High School In Deep River, Connecticut Is Closed For Two Days After Two Students Tested Positive. 

  • “The Valley Regional High School in Deep River is closed to students and non-essential staff this Tuesday and Wednesday after two students tested positive for COVID-19, according to Regional School District 4 Superintendent Brian White. In an email sent to the school community, the school announced they will be closed on Sept. 8 and 9. Instead, students and staff will take part in online learning.” [NBC Connecticut, 9/7/20]

Sixty Are In Quarantine After Two Students In Medford, Wisconsin Tested Positive For The Virus.

  • “Sixty people are in quarantine after two Medford school students tested positive for COVID-19. According to a post on the district’s Facebook page, the students identified 54 students and five teachers as close contacts.” [WSAW, 9/8/20]

Two Warren Elementary Students In Bowling Green, Kentucky Have Tested Positive For The Virus. 

  • “Two students have tested positive for COVID-19 at Warren Elementary in Bowling Green. The students last attended in person classes on August 27.” [WBKO, 9/8/20]

Brodhead High School In Wisconsin Switched To Virtual Learning After Seven Students Tested Positive.

  • “Brodhead High School will switch to virtual learning after an outbreak of COVID-19 among students. The news came in a press release sent Monday evening from the Green county Health Department. A total of seven students tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus. The outbreak is believed to have stemmed from a ‘student gathering’ that happened the weekend before school started. The school district completed contact tracing from the event and sent 25 students considered to have been close contacts.” [WKOW, 9/7/20]