List of COVID outbreaks in schools released in MS. A Coast county has the most.
The Mississippi State Department of Health on Tuesday released the first full list of COVID-19 cases and outbreaks at schools by county.
Jackson County has reported the most outbreaks in the state so far with 7, followed by Harrison and Hinds counties with 4 each.
Jackson County schools have recorded 83 student cases and 33 staff cases since school began in early August; Harrison County schools have recorded 60 student cases and 28 staff cases.
The seven outbreaks in Jackson County were all in the week of Aug. 17. The health department defines an “outbreak” as at least three cases of COVID-19 “in an individual classroom or group sports team, group activity, band, other,” so a school can record cases without reporting an outbreak.
Harrison County reported fewer positive cases but far more students and staff in quarantine than Jackson County.
Schools are required to send the health department detailed information about COVID-19 cases among students and teachers each week. The information released by the health department contains far fewer details, combining the data from each school into a list of cases among students and staff in each county, number of outbreaks, and number of people quarantined due to exposure.
Schools submitted the survey to the health department for the first time last week. They are required to report cases from the previous week by noon each Monday.
State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs and Gov. Tate Reeves have urged schools to be transparent and release information about positive cases and quarantine figures to the public. So far, most Coast districts have taken a case-by-case approach to announcing cases at schools.
Jackson County School District has reported school-by-school COVID-19 information on its website.
Here’s the information from each Coast county:
George
Total new cases among students, week of Aug. 17-21: 2
Total new cases among staff, week of Aug. 17-21: 0
Total new outbreaks, week of Aug. 17-21: 0
Teachers/staff quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 4
Students quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 44
Total cases among students since school started: 2
Total cases among staff since school started: 12
Outbreaks since school started: 0
Hancock
Total new cases among students, week of Aug. 17-21: 6
Total new cases among staff, week of Aug. 17-21: 1
Total new outbreaks, week of Aug. 17-21: 0
Teachers/staff quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 1
Students quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 57
Total cases among students since school started: 14
Total cases among staff since school started: 1
Outbreaks since school started: 1
Harrison
Total new cases among students, week of Aug. 17-21: 40
Total new cases among staff, week of Aug. 17-21: 13
Total new outbreaks, week of Aug. 17-21: 4
Teachers/staff quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 63
Students quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 979
Total cases among students since school started: 60
Total cases among staff since school started: 28
Outbreaks since school started: 4
Jackson
Total new cases among students, week of Aug. 17-21: 52
Total new cases among staff, week of Aug. 17-21: 15
Total new outbreaks, week of Aug. 17-21: 7
Teachers/staff quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 23
Students quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 242
Total cases among students since school started: 83
Total cases among staff since school started: 33
Outbreaks since school started: 7
Pearl River
Total new cases among students, week of Aug. 17-21: 7
Total new cases among staff, week of Aug. 17-21: 2
Total new outbreaks, week of Aug. 17-21: 0
Teachers/staff quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 7
Students quarantined, week of Aug. 17-21: 110
Total cases among students since school started: 9
Total cases among staff since school started: 3
Outbreaks since school started: 0
Stone
Data for Stone County was not released on Tuesday.
Find the full list at the health department website: https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/14,0,420.html
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 6:33 PM.
