Just a week after schools reopened in a northern Georgia district, more than 800 of its students and staff have been quarantined.
Last week, the Cherokee County School District, about 44 miles north of Atlanta, told 20 people to quarantine when one 2nd grader tested positive for the virus after the first day of school. That number grew rapidly, and as of Monday night, the school had ordered 826 students quarantined due to possible exposures, according to a list made by the district.
The district’s 42,000 students cite about 40 cases in 19 elementary, middle and high schools, but it is unclear if all of those positive tests represent coronavirus or if some are from people who were simply exposed to infected students or staff.
The district routinely makes contact with detectives to determine who may have been exposed to people who tested positive for the virus, according to NBC branch WXIA in Atlanta.
School officials could not be reached for comment Tuesday morning.
Cherokee County schools advise but students or staff should not wear masks.
After a viral photo shoot last week of some students wearing masks stood shoulder to shoulder, Superintendent Brian V. Hightower wrote a letter to parents saying the image does not show that many students in the neighborhood wear face masks.
“The photos of the senior group that were taken for several of the school outside on several of our campuses made sure that those students may not be aware of the importance of masks,” Hightower wrote. “In research, we learned a lot of wearing masks on a regular basis, but we need to continue to remind all students of the importance of masks if you can not social distance.”
Hightower also said in his note to families last week that he is not sure how long the neighborhood schools will be able to stay open in the face of the pandemic.
“The answer will depend on all of us as a community,” he wrote.
Govina of Georgia Brian Kemp said Monday at a news conference that he is pleased with reopening of schools in the state.
“I think this week went honestly well other than a few ‘viral photos,'” the mayor said.
Hilary Porterfield, a parent of a Cherokee student at school, told NBC News last week that she was “frustrated” at how the coronavirus pandemic was handled. She said the positive cases should serve as a “red flag” for the district.
“It’s just a matter of time before it’s out of control,” she said.
