COVID-19: Positive Cases In Waukesha Schools

WAUKESHA, WI — The School District of Waukesha recorded 104 positive COVID-19 cases among its student body in the week that started Monday. There are 12,813 students in the district.

In the first three weeks of school, the district recorded 168 COVID-19 cases among its student body.

Some 183 students were in self-quarantine as of Friday, district data showed. No staff members were reported in self-quarantine this week.

The Waukesha School Board will meet to talk about changing the way the district offers instruction if six school and community criteria are met.

• If 25 percent of its student body is absent for five days.
• If 20 percent of its staff is absent for five days.
• If 75 percent of its substitute positions can't be filled.
• If 25 percent of school buildings switch to virtual learning for five days.
• If there 1,000 new cases per day per 100,000 people for 10 consecutive days.
• If 75 percent of acute hospital beds are full.
• If 85 percent of intensive care unit beds are full.

Three of the six criteria were met from Tuesday to Thursday: There were fewer than 75 percent of substitute positions filled; 75 percent of acute hospital beds were full, and 85 percent of intensive care unit beds were full.

Masks are optional in the Waukesha school district, though the district has proposed requiring students and staff to wear face coverings. People should wear masks regardless of vaccination status in a county where COVID-19 transmission is high, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. That applies to Waukesha County.

Waukesha County had seven new positive cases for a total of 52, 033 cases of COVID-19 as of Friday, according to Wisconsin Department of Health Services data. The seven-day average of confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 was 108.

Some 61 percent of residents in Waukesha County have completed the coronavirus vaccine series, according to state health data. Some 50 percent of residents ages 12-15 are fully vaccinated as well.

Ethan Duran, Patch Staff, contributed to this report.