• This COVID-19 update will provide data regarding contact tracing investigations and number of individuals affected by COVID-19 from the week of January 18 through January 22. The weekend data from January 16 and 17 is reflected on Monday, January 18.

– 1.18 – Due to 2 weekend contact tracing investigations and 2 on Monday, 1.18, we transitioned 1 elementary classroom at Lincoln and 1 elementary classroom at Woodlands to Distance Learning for 10 days due to 2 in-school positives. East and West Middle School each had 1 contact tracing investigation resulting in several close contact quarantines for 10 days. Total contact tracing investigations due to in-school positives on 1.18 = 4 Contact Tracing Investigations.

– 1.19 – 1 contact tracing investigation at Trout Elementary due to an inschool positive resulted in one classroom at Trout transitioning to Distance Learning. Total contact tracing investigations due to inschool positives on 1.19 - 1 Contact Tracing Investigation.

– 1.20 – 1 Wildcat Academy contact tracing investigation due to an in-school positive resulted in several close contacts. Total contact tracing investigations due to in-school positives on 1.20 = 1 Contact Tracing Investigation

– 1.21 – 1 West Middle School contact tracing investigation resulted in several close contact quarantines for 10 days, and 1 elementary classroom at Liberty Elementary resulted in a classroom transitioning to Distance Learning for 10 days. Total contact tracing investigations due to in-school positives on 1.21 = 2 Contact Tracing Investigations.

– 1.22 – 1 West Middle School and 2 PO-HI contact tracing investigations resulted in several close contact quarantines for 10 days. Even though PO-HI was on DL, we do still have some students coming in for Special Education services and in-season activites are practicing. Total contact tracing investigations due to inschool positives on 1.22 = 3 Contact Tracing Investigations.

• 11 Total Contact Tracing Investigations were conducted last week. There are many more positive cases indicated on the chart, but these positives were no in-school positives, so no contact tracing investigations occurred. Many are family close contacts who became positive while on quarantine.

• If a site experiences a high number of student and staff isolations/quarantines, or if we cannot staff a building to ensure safety and supervision, we will transition a site/sites to Distance Learning for a period of 10 days. Be prepared with plans for Distance Learning for your child if the istuation warrants. Keep up-to-date with our sites on our PCPS Contact Tracing Spreadsheet at www.pcps.us.

PO-HI returned to in-person learning on Monday, January 25.

With such high positivity rates, it is imperative EVERYONE do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by wearing face coverings, watching your distance, washing your hands, avoiding large group gatherings, and staying home if experiencing symptoms. Quarantine is used to keep someone who may have been exposed to COVID-19 away from others. People in quarantine should stay home, separate themselves from others, monitor their health, and follow directions from their state or local health department. We know from experience positive cases frequently come from family and friend gatherings; please put safety protocols in place to reduce the spread while spending time with family and friends, which include distancing and masking.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OR IF SOMEONE IN THE HOUSEHOLD TESTS POSITIVE. If students exhibit any symptoms, please test and await results before sending them to school, even if symptoms improve.