Covid-19 cases drop in schools after earlier spike

Covid-19 cases have significantly dropped in the Grafton School District after a spike in October and November.

Superintendent Jeff Nelson gave an update on how the district is handling the pandemic during a Dec. 20 School Board meeting.

Nelson reported that the district had 16 students with confirmed cases, 23 students quarantining and two staff members with confirmed cases.

Grafton High School had four confirmed cases, down from the seven in October and 12 in November. John Long Middle School had four confirmed cases, down from 25 in October and 14 in November. And Woodview and Kennedy Elementary schools nine in total, down from the 28 reported in October and 56 in November.

“Right now we’re at a lower level,” Nelson said.

Nelson shared new information gathered by the district in regards to how many close contacts resulted in positive Covid-19 cases.

District staff members looked at individual contact tracing sheets of confirmed students to see if any of the close contacts caught coronavirus within 10 days of the contact.

Since the beginning of the school year, Nelson said at Woodview Elementary School there were seven close contact infections, three at Kennedy Elementary School, 15 at John Long Middle School and none at the high school.

 Many district students, staff members and families with students attending schools in the district have been taking advantage of the district’s free testing program that kicked off on Nov. 9. The program is operated by Accelerated Clinical Laboratories — a Department of Health Services appointed provider — and offers the optional tests on school grounds.

Between Nov. 9 and Dec. 14, 832 Covid-19 tests have been administered — 459 to students, 344 to family members and 29 to staff members.

Nelson noted one trend he has seen is that many come for tests on Monday following weekend activities.

“Monday tends to be one of the busier days that we have. Typically after the weekend we see people coming in to get tested,” he said.

Nelson said the site has not experienced a shortage in testing kits and feedback about the site has been largely positive.