||| FROM ERIC WEBB, ORCAS SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT |||
Over the past few days, Orcas Island School District has identified 11 COVID positive students and several other positive individuals within their households. All cases originated from outside of the district, and no spread within the district has been identified. During this time period, the District has expanded its testing regimen in an effort to identify and isolate any additional positive cases. This expansion included COVID rapid testing followed by PCR testing of all identified individuals and their household members as soon as the information of a possible spread came about in addition to screening/pooled testing of middle school and high school students and staff. We continue to offer our Wednesday asymptomatic clinics and symptomatic testing by appointment as well.
Students who tested positive will be required to isolate for the required 10-day period and asymptomatic, vaccinated close contacts will be allowed to remain at school and will participate in another PCR testing on day four of potential exposure. Unvaccinated students who are determined to be a close contact of a positive individual will be required to quarantine for 10 days and have a negative rapid test before returning to campus.
In an effort to be proactive and prevent further spread of COVID, the district will again offer screening/pooled testing to all middle school and high school students and staff on Monday, October 18. This will be in addition to scheduled testing of symptomatic individuals and the asymptomatic testing clinic on Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
I am very proud of our students, families, and staff who have followed the mitigating measures of staying home when sick, participating in COVID testing, openly communicating with district staff, and being fully vaccinated. It is due to these actions that we have been able to identify cases early on and contain the spread of the virus. By controlling the spread, we are able to continue with in-person learning while keeping our students and staff safe.
Our continued practice of compassion, tolerance, and kindness are key to getting through this together,
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.” ― Haruki Murakami
“ All cases originated from outside of the district, and no spread within the district has been identified.”
Aren’t homecoming social activities, like a dance, school-sanctioned events and occurring on school grounds? If that’s where the cases originated, how can the district claim nothing happened “within the district” and no “spread within the district”? How does that make sense??