40 Students, Teachers Test Positive For COVID: ISS

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — Iredell-Statesville Schools reported at least 40 confirmed coronavirus cases among teachers and students last week. While the total number of cases is four fewer than reported the week before, the tally includes at least 29 cases among students — four more than reported a week prior.

Of those confirmed cases during the week of Feb. 5 through Feb. 11, at least 11 were ISS staff members, the school district said.

"The isolation of individuals who are symptomatic or test positive and the quarantine of close school contacts continue to be important public health control measures," Iredell Health Director Jane Hinson told Patch in an email. "Getting vaccinated is another preventive measure that should help slow the spread of this virus in the school setting."

Teachers will soon become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines in Iredell County and throughout the state. Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper 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. Educators and school personnel will be eligible to receive the vaccine Feb. 24, with additional frontline essential workers added to the eligibility list on March 10.

The school district reported a decrease in secondary spread within schools, according to data provided by the school district. At least four of the 40 positive COVID-19 cases reported last week were a result of secondary spread within a school, three less than the week before.

Community spread of COVID-19 led to 710 students and 84 school district staff members to stay home either with symptoms or in quarantine out of caution between Feb. 5 through Feb. 11, ISS reported.

SEE ALSO: Most Eligible For Vaccine Say They Have Gotten It: NC Survey

Of the students reported as out, at least 285 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 279 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 146 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, ISS said. Overall, there were 20 fewer students reported out of class due to the cautionary measures in comparison to the week prior.

Among staff members, at least 21 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 22 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 44 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms.

As of Feb. 15, at least 44 new cases were reported in the span of a day, increasing the county's tally of known cases to nearly 15,700. At least 30 county residents were hospitalized Monday, and 188 deaths attributed to the virus, according to the Iredell County Health Department.

The 20 schools and ISS facilities reporting positive COVID-19 cases from Feb. 5 — Feb. 11, 2021 include:

• Celeste Elementary
• Cool Spring Elementary
• Lake Norman Elementary
• Shepherd Elementary
• Third Creek Elementary
• Woodland Heights Elementary
• The Brawley School
• East Iredell Middle
• Third Creek Middle
• West Iredell Middle
• Woodland Heights Middle
• Agriculture and Science Early College
• Career Academy & Technical School
• Crossroads Early College
• Lake Norman High
• North Iredell High
• South Iredell High
• Statesville High
• West Iredell High
• ISS District Office (Race Street)

SEE ALSO:

• Teachers To Be Prioritized In NC's Vaccine Eligibility Expansion
• Iredell County To Run Simulated Election, Test Voting Machines
• 1st Case Of South African Coronavirus Variant Confirmed In NC