Dept. of Public Health seeing COVID and flu cases in county schools

As the fall season begins, there has been a slight rise in coronavirus cases and also influenza cases in Henderson County Public Schools, according to the Henderson County Department of Public Health.

According to Andrew Mundhenk, the communications manager for the Henderson County Department of Public Health, the COVID case counts are not as accurate as they used to be during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

"In general, case counts have become less reliable due to the widespread use of home tests, which are not reported to health officials, and the fact doctors and labs are no longer required to report COVID-19 cases," he said. "Because of these factors, we have no way of accurately tracking the number of students who have had COVID-19. If a student does test positive for COVID-19 our school nurses ask them to follow the CDC’s recommended isolation guidance."

Mundhenk said the Department of Health's nurses are seeing COVID-19 in the schools as well as the flu.

"This is reflective of what we are seeing in the overall statewide respiratory surveillance models. We continue to emphasize the basic prevention measures of hand washing, covering your nose and mouth if you cough or sneeze, cleaning surfaces often and staying home if you are sick," he said.

The Centers for Disease Control's website says anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should isolate at home at least five days and said people are most infectious during the first five days. These are the CDC guidelines, as listed on its website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/isolation.html for people who test positive for COVID-19

• Wear a high-quality mask if you must be around others at home and in public.

• Do not go places where you are unable to wear a mask.

• Do not travel.

• Stay home and separate from others as much as possible.

• Use a separate bathroom, if possible.

• Take steps to improve ventilation at home, if possible.

• Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils.

• Monitor your symptoms. If you have an emergency warning sign (like trouble breathing), seek emergency medical care immediately.

Henderson County Public Schools public information officer Kimbrell Arrowood said the school system is "committed to providing a supportive environment that promotes the health and well-being of our students and staff."

"Health-related absences are one of the top reasons students miss school, and those absences can quickly add up," she said. "We encourage families to communicate with their child's school and take advantage of the health services available, including full-time school nurses at each of our 23 school buildings and Blue Ridge Health Centers at Apple Valley Middle, Bruce Drysdale Elementary, North Henderson High and Sugarloaf Elementary."

Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: COVID, flu cases popping up in county schools, health department says