26 Test Positive For COVID-19 In ISS Schools Last Week

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — At least eight of the 26 positive COVID-19 cases reported in Iredell-Statesville Schools last week were a result of secondary spread within a school setting, the school district reported Friday.

The news comes as ISS reported that 21 students and five staff members tested positive for COVID-19 last week in Iredell-Statesville Schools.

The number of cases related to secondary schools is one case higher than reported the week prior, however overall the cases reported at seven elementary schools, three middle schools and three high schools mark a slight decline in the number of confirmed cases for the school district in a week.

Community spread of COVID-19 led 549 students and 42 school district staff members to stay home either with symptoms or in quarantine out of caution between Feb. 19 through Feb. 25, ISS said.

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Of the students reported as out, at least 255 were in quarantine due to a school contact,176 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 118 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, ISS said. Overall, there were 77 fewer students reported out of class due to the cautionary measures in comparison to the week prior.

Among staff members, at least 16 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 13 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 13 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms.

As of Feb. 26, at least 69 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Iredell County the span of a day, increasing the county's tally of known cases to 16,335. At least 26 county residents were hospitalized Friday, and 199 deaths were attributed to the virus, according to the Iredell County Health Department.

The 14 schools and ISS facilities reporting positive COVID-19 cases from Feb. 19 — Feb. 25, 2021 include:

• Coddle Creek Elementary
• East Iredell Elementary
• Lake Norman Elementary
• Lakeshore Elementary
• Shepherd Elementary
• Troutman Elementary
• Woodland Heights Elementary
• Northview Middle
• West Iredell Middle
• Woodland Heights Middle
• Lake Norman High
• South Iredell High
• West Iredell High
• Unity Center

Last week, teachers became eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Iredell County and throughout the state. Gov. Roy Cooper recently announced that North Carolina K-12 and childcare teachers will be prioritized at the front of the line in the state's upcoming expansion of vaccine eligibility to frontline essential workers.

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