Shutterstock
Georgia Second Grader Tests Positive on First Day of School; and NC Governor Announces Another Extension of Phase 2.
Two Atlanta school districts started in-person classes on Monday with mask-optional policies. On-campus photos showed many students packed shoulder-to-shoulder, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise what happened next.
One day after school resumed, one of the schools announced that a second grader tested positive for the virus. As a result, the child’s teacher and classmates have been forced into a two-week quarantine, reports CBS affiliate WGCL-TV.
When Paulding County Superintendent Brian Ottot was asked if the photos were accurate, he said yes. But he said the district is following state guidelines and that students need more than the few minutes they spend in the hallway to catch the virus.
Ottot said that class changes represent “a challenge,” and that “it is an area where we are continuing to work on in this new environment to find practicable ways to further limit students from congregating,” He added that “There is no question that the photo does not look good.”
As for not requiring masks, Ottot said, “Wearing a mask is a personal choice and there is no practical way to enforce a mandate to wear them.”
Related: NC 2nd Grader Dies From COVID-19
Governor Roy Cooper on Wednesday announced that North Carolina will yet again extend phase 2. Phase 2 of coronavirus restrictions means that businesses like movie theaters, bars and gyms will remain closed. The extension will last at least another five weeks until September 11.
To encourage NC citizens, Cooper said NC residents shouldn’t think the announcement means nothing is opening, since students will soon be able to return to schools. He said state officials continue to rely on data trends when making those decisions. In the meantime, it sounds like some businesses could make use of investment help.
“In North Carolina, we’ve used a dimmer switch approach to easing restrictions,” he said. “This ensured we didn’t open too much, too quickly, which health experts say can lead to a devastating increase in cases, sickness and death.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen echoed Cooper’s sentiment. She expressed hope that the extension will help give officials time to see what the impact of schools reopening might cause. Cohen also noted that the state is experiencing elevated but declining trends in the overall number of COVID-like syndromic cases.
“While overall we’re seeing signs of stability, we still have much work to do,” she said.
Related: Child Hospitalizations Surge 23% in Florida As Schools Reopen
