NEW HANOVER COUNTY — With more than 5,500 Covid-19 cases identified in New Hanover County since the pandemic began, it was only a matter of time before the virus reached schools.
During the first three weeks of reopened buildings, 38 cases of Covid-19, both among students and faculty, were identified in New Hanover County Schools. One hundred and thirty-eight people in the district’s community have been told since Oct. 12 to undergo precautionary quarantine for exposure at school, including 43 this week.
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New Hanover High has seen the most Covid-19 cases of all the schools, with a total of seven including a new case identified in the last week.
The cluster at the high school spawned the second week in Plan B, wherein students are separated into two cohorts. Group A attends in-person classes on Monday and Tuesday, and Group B goes on Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is an at-home learning day for all students. Families were also able to opt for a fully remote option.
On Oct. 20, the school announced a staff member tested positive for Covid-19. The employee had last been in the building Oct. 16.
In the same announcement, the school also revealed a student tested positive and was last on campus Oct. 13.
The week of Oct. 19-23, 77 people at the high school were assigned to quarantine after being exposed to the virus. However, according to the NHCS website, no additional people were placed under quarantine this past week.
In a letter, the principal assured parents that contact tracers identified those who were within 6 feet of the person – with or without a mask – for more than 15 minutes while they were infectious.
The public can view the number of Covid-19 cases and precautionary quarantines in New Hanover County schools, as well as the central offices, on the NHCS website. The grid is updated weekly on Fridays at 5 p.m.
According to the NHCS website, public health takes individuals out of schools when they experience at least one Covid-19-like symptom. It assigns case-by-case isolation periods that can span up to 24 days, or longer if the person starts showing symptoms during the quarantine.
Below are the numbers of Covid-19 cases reported at schools Oct. 26-30:
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Blair – 3
The International School at Gregory – 1
Holly Tree – 1
Johnson Pre-K Center – 1
Winter Park – 2
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
Holly Shelter – 1
Noble – 2
HIGH SCHOOLS
Ashley – 1
Career Readiness Academy at Mosley – 1
Hoggard – 2
Isaac Bear Early College – 1
Laney – 2
New Hanover – 1
Wilmington Early College – 1
