Positive COVID-19 Cases Decline In ISS Schools

IREDELL COUNTY, NC — At least 20 students and seven staff members tested positive for COVID-19 last week in Iredell-Statesville Schools. The cases reported at seven elementary schools, two middle schools and three high schools mark a decline in cases in both categories for the school district.

The 27 total confirmed coronavirus cases among teachers and students last week marked a decline in cases in both categories for the school district.

This week, teachers will become 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. 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.

While the school district reported a decrease in positive cases, there was an increase in secondary spread within schools, according to data provided by the school district. At least seven of the 27 positive COVID-19 cases reported last week were a result of secondary spread within a school, three more than the week prior.

Community spread of COVID-19 led 626 students and 72 school district staff members to stay home either with symptoms or in quarantine out of caution between Feb. 12 through Feb. 18, ISS reported.

SEE ALSO: COVID Vaccination Event To Be Held In Davidson: How To Register

Of the students reported as out, at least 256 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 229 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 141 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms, ISS said. Overall, there were 84 fewer students reported out of class due to the cautionary measures in comparison to the week prior.

Among staff members, at least 13 were in quarantine due to a school contact, 24 were in quarantine from a possible community contact, and 35 were isolating with COVID-19 symptoms.

As of Feb. 19, at least 62 new cases were reported in the span of a day, increasing the county's tally of known cases to nearly 16,000. At least 22 county residents were hospitalized Friday, and 196 deaths were attributed to the virus, according to the Iredell County Health Department.

The 12 schools and ISS facilities reporting positive COVID-19 cases from Feb. 12 — Feb. 18, 2021 include:

• Celeste Elementary
• Central Elementary
• Cool Spring Elementary
• Harmony Elementary
• Shepherd Elementary
• Third Creek Elementary
• Woodland Heights Elementary
• The Brawley School
• West Iredell Middle
• Lake Norman High
• South Iredell High
• Statesville High

SEE ALSO:

• Teachers To Be Prioritized In NC's Vaccine Eligibility Expansion
• Income Tax Season 2021: What To Know Before Filing In NC
  
• Search On For Two Missing Iredell Teens: Sheriff