22 Outbreaks Of COVID-19 In Harford County Schools Reported

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The number of COVID-19 outbreaks in Harford County schools nearly tripled over the past week, according to data from the Maryland Department of Health.

Every Wednesday, the state health department releases a list of K-12 schools with outbreaks of COVID-19. The data does not include child care facilities or higher education institutions.

To be reported in the list, a school must have a classroom/cohort outbreak or a school-wide outbreak,* according to the Maryland Department of Health.

Last week, one school in Harford County had an outbreak.

There was a classroom outbreak at Patterson Mill High School, Harford County Public Schools Risk Manager Katie Ridgway told the Harford County Board of Education at its May 9 meeting.

Now, officials say four schools are reporting 22 outbreaks across Harford County.

These schools in Harford County have outbreaks of COVID-19, state health officials reported Wednesday, May 11:

• Bel Air Middle School: 3
• Patterson Mill High School: 7
• Prospect Mill Elementary School: 7
• William S. James Elementary School: 5

* A classroom/cohort outbreak is defined as at least three confirmed cases of COVID-19 within 14 days that are epidemiologically linked, and are not household contacts.

A schoolwide outbreak is defined as at least five classrooms or cohorts with cases from separate households in 14 days; or 5 percent of unrelated students, teachers or staff (at least 10 who are unrelated) having tested positive for COVID-19 within a two-week period.