Loudoun County reports a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, specifically in teens. Health authorities say about 100 teens tested positive and the spike dates back to a trip to the beach in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Dozens of people who attended Loudoun County Beach Week from multiple areas of the county brought new cases of COVID-19 home.
“We now have about 100 people who have become infected as a result of this trip and there may still be more,” said Dr. David Goodfriend, Loudoun County Director of Health.
Goodfriend said his office traced the infections to a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
Liz Carter is a Loudoun County mother and heard about the increase in cases.
“It doesn’t surprise me. I’m seeing people posting about their vacations,” said Carter.
She said she is also seeing parents post their demands that all students return to school in person 100% of the time in the fall. Carter said she is not ready for that.
“We have to do something, we have to act now, this is happening very quickly.”
Health officials say the virus is not going anywhere.
“It really is a wake up call that the virus is still here,” Goodfriend said.
Carter and other parents started a Facebook group to discuss alternatives.
Amanda Bean, another mother at the Loudoun County Public School, suggests that younger students return in their entirety but spread throughout all school buildings, including middle and high schools.
“I would like to see primary school prioritized because if we don’t get those children back, we have a massive child care crisis.”
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