Every 4th-grader in Mississippi school district must quarantine amid new COVID-19 cases
Every fourth grader in a Lafayette County, Mississippi school district must quarantine for the next two weeks amid new coronavirus cases.
Lafayette County School District officials announced the decision Sunday after reporting positive cases among three faculty members at Lafayette Upper Elementary School.
“With the safety of our students and staff in mind, the LCSD is taking the steps to quarantine all of the 4th-grade class for the recommended 14 days starting Monday, August 24,” according to a statement posted to the district’s website. “We believe taking this step will better protect our students and help in our efforts to contain while providing a healthy environment for all of our students and staff.”
COVID-19 CASE UPDATE For Immediate Release: 08/23/2020
Posted by Lafayette County School District on Sunday, August 23, 2020
“Contact tracing has been completed and anyone in close contact (someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for 15 minutes or more) with this person has been notified,” officials said Sunday.
Students’ two-week quarantine began Aug. 24 and will end Sept. 4.
The district’s plan for students to self-isolate drew a myriad of questions and comments from parents online.
“Scary,” one parent wrote. “But I’m Thankful that lafayette school is right on top of things. To do the best that they absolutely can do to protect everyone.”
“So [no] known direct exposure has been notified but quarantining the whole 4th grade?,” another commented. “Do 4th grade families also need to quarantine or just the 4th grade student? I also have a 6th grader.”
While the entire fourth-grade class will switch to online learning, all other grade levels were scheduled to report to classes Monday, district leaders said.
