A high school in Georgia that was seen in a viral photo showing students grabbing tight in a hall is temporarily closed after nine students and staff members tested positive for the coronavirus, Reports from CBS Atlanta WGCL-TV reports. North Paulding High School in Dallas, Georgia, reopened for teaching on August 3rd.
The school will be closed for personal learning Monday and Tuesday, according to a letter sent to parents and guardians of students on Sunday. Extracurricular activities have also been canceled for these days.
Students will be informed if they can return for personal learning on Tuesday evening, the letter stated. The letter also stated that the building was “thoroughly cleaned and disinfected” while the school was closed.
On Saturday, the school informed the parents and caregivers of students that after one week of in-person instruction, six students and three staff members had tested positive for COVID-19.
The school drew national criticism last week after photos of the corridors of the school showed students standing shoulder-to-shoulder, many of them without face masks. Two students who shared photos of the school on social media were initially detained, but their punishments were eventually reversed to more national horror.
AP
Some Atlanta suburban school districts on Monday began person classes with mask-optional policies. The day after school went back, one school announced one second grader tests positive for the coronavirus, causing the child’s teacher and classmates to be sent home for quarantine two weeks.
Students at North Paulding High School are not required to wear face masks or sit at socially distant offices, one student told CBS This Morning lead national correspondent David Begnaud.
In Cherokee County, Georgia, at least 11 students and two staff members across primary, secondary and secondary schools have tested positive for COVID-19 since last week. After conducting contact prosecution, the district said at least 250 students and staff who should have had possible exposure to positive cases quarantine for two weeks. During that time, students will receive instruction online.
Audrey McNamara and Sophie Lewis contributed to this report.
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