16 Coronavirus Cases In D158 Schools

MCHENRY AND KANE COUNTIES, IL — In the past two weeks, 16 students or staff members within District 158 have tested positive for COVID-19, according to a District 158 dashboard that lists the number of cases within the district. There have been five cases at Huntley High School, three at Martin Elementary School and three at Conley Elementary School.

District 158 shifted from remote learning to a hybrid plan that includes in-person instruction this past week. As of Thursday morning, that plan appeared to still be in place though District 158 officials sent a note to D158 families Wednesday after receiving "a number of inquiries" regarding a spike in cases in the area, which stated that a return to remote learning could be imminent.

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"Given the sharp rises in key metrics over the past several days, changes to our hybrid learning plans and a shift back to Remote Learning may be required in the near future," according to D158 officials. "As has been the case since the start of our reopening journey, our plans remain at the mercy of larger public health factors."

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District spokesman Tom Armstrong told the Northwest Herald that the current number of COVID-19 cases in the schools did not warrant a return to remote learning. He said the cases are not connected and did not constitute an outbreak in any of the schools. He also told the newspaper it is unlikely the virus was spread through school activities.

The McHenry County Department of Health provides the following explanation as to what constitutes an outbreak within a school: "An outbreak in a school is defined as two confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections occurring within 14 calendar days of each other in individuals in the same classroom, team, or club. This is because the cases would be epidemiologically linked (known exposure to each other) with respect to place (same classroom, team, or club) and time (within 14 calendar days). This would prompt an investigation by the McHenry County Department of Health that may result in recommendations for testing and quarantining of all students/staff in the affected classroom, team, or club and/or other mitigation interventions to include but not limited to cancellation of activities or closure of school."

The following D158 schools have reported one case in past 14 days: D158's Early Childhood Center, Leggee, Huntley Middle School and Marlowe Middle School. In addition, there has been one case within the district's office.

Currently, the districts elementary students are being taught under a hybrid plan and 6th to 12th grade students are expected to return from remote learning on Nov. 2, according to the Northwest Herald.

In the area, an outbreak at Lundahl Middle School has closed the school for two weeks and required a shift back to remote learning. In addition, Prairie Ridge High School students will again be learning from home after a hike in COVID-19 cases.

More via the Northwest Herald

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