5 Schools In Harford County Have COVID-19 Outbreaks: Officials

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported in three public schools and two private schools in Harford County, the Maryland Department of Health reported this week.

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.

The Maryland Department of Health changed its definition of what constitutes an outbreak, effective Jan. 1. As a result, fewer schools are now included in the list.

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. (It used to be two cases.)

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. (Previously, three classrooms constituted an outbreak.)

These schools have COVID-19 outbreaks in Harford County as of Jan. 12, according to the Maryland Department of Health:

• Bel Air Middle School: 6
• Harford Day School: 5
• Patterson Mill Middle School: 24
• Trinity Lutheran: 13
• William Paca/Old Post Elementary School: 5