More than 23,500 Mississippi students quarantined Jan. 10-14 due to COVID-19 exposure

Sarah Haselhorst, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
·2 min read

Nearly three weeks into 2022, cases of COVID-19 among students have skyrocketed, with more than 14,000 Mississippi school children testing positive for the coronavirus.

More than 23,500 students were in quarantine statewide from Jan. 10-14.

Of 678 schools reporting from 71 of Mississippi's 82 counties, there were 9,642 new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi students statewide from Jan. 10 to 14 and 23,000 in quarantine, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health's report Wednesday.

A similar skyrocket in student case counts was reported in Mississippi schools in late August, when the COVID-19 delta variant infected 3,929 students and put 23,450 in quarantine between Aug. 23 to 27.

Last report: Nearly 4,000 Mississippi students out of schools with COVID-19 infections

Now, with the omicron variant case counts surging around the state, schools are reporting even higher one-week infection rates. Last week, several Mississippi school districts temporarily closed because of the rampant spread of COVID-19 among teachers and students.

Of 678 schools reporting from 71 of Mississippi's 82 counties, there were 9,642 new COVID-19 cases in Mississippi students statewide from Jan. 10 to 14, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health's report Wednesday.

The last report, spanning Jan. 3-7, showed nearly 4,000 students had new COVID-19 infections, meaning the number testing positive more than doubled the following week.

From Jan. 10 to 14, 23,501 students and 1,602 teachers were quarantined due to exposure to the coronavirus. Over 2,465 teachers and staff across Mississippi schools were positive for COVID-19 that week.

Mississippi schools have not been under a mask mandate since spring 2020 and pediatric vaccination rates remain low. The fully vaccinated rate of Mississippi children 12-17 is 36%. About 6% residents aged 5-11 have gotten their first dose of Pfizer, according to Mississippi State Department of Health records.

COVID-19 in schools: Several Mississippi districts closed due to infections among staff, teachers

See how these five counties' schools compare:

In schools where there are five or fewer positive COVID-19 cases reported in a week, the Mississippi State Department of Health reports the school had 1-5 cases in order to "protect personal identity."

Hinds County

Positive cases in students Jan. 10 to 14: Between 229 and 277

Students quarantined Jan. 10 to 14: 627

Madison County

Positive cases in students Jan. 10 to 14: Between 514 and 526

Students quarantined Jan. 10 to 14: 963

Forrest County

Positive cases in students Jan. 10 to 14: Between 252 and 260

Students quarantined Jan. 10 to 14: 767

Lamar County

Positive cases in students Jan. 10 to 14: Between 385 and 389

Students quarantined Jan. 10 to 14: 2,103

Have a health story? Or a health-related tip? Send it along to shaselhorst@gannett.com, on Twitter at @HaselhorstSarah or call 601-331-9307.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Many Mississippi students, teachers in COVID-19 quarantine Jan. 10-14