A week after Clover students returned, here’s how many COVID-19 cases were reported.
After a week back for students, the Clover School District now has nine confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff members and eight more students who tested positive.
On Sunday evening, the district posted a message from superintendent Sheila Quinn updating progress since students returned on Aug. 24. Quinn outlines successes and challenges with busing, sanitation, distancing and other measures related to school during coronavirus. Quinn also gave the case count, which she said dates back to Aug. 17.
All cases were isolated, she said, and contact tracing was successful.
“Individuals who needed to quarantine were both verbally and in writing notified that they needed to quarantine,” Quinn said.
The nine staff members and eight students represent less than 1% of each population, Quinn said.
“Many of the cases, and potential cases, in these first few weeks were not contracted at school,” she said. “They stem from large gatherings at home or in the community.”
Quinn asked families to continue distancing measures both in and outside of school.
“That’s a big area of growth for all of us,” she said.
Principals and school nurses help with contact tracing at schools, but it’s up to families and students to communicate with close contacts for potential off campus exposures.
“We are working hard to do our part, to follow all protocols, and to be transparent with you on our progress,” Quinn said.
The Herald reported earlier Clover High School football workouts were suspended after someone tested positive.
The information from Quinn comes ahead of South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control data expected this week on COVID-19 exposure in schools. This past Friday, DHEC physician Brannon Traxler said lists of cumulative and rolling 30-day case counts for staff and students in schools statewide would be listed starting this week.
“That data will be available,” Traxler said. “It will be available at the school level.”
York and Clover began school the same day. Fort Mill, which has more students than both schools combined, started class on Monday. Rock Hill is annually the largest district in York County. Rock Hill schools start in full on Sept. 8.
