Tally of sick staff, students dips versus last week
2,399 COVID cases in schools
A total of 2,399 staff and students in Massachusetts schools have tested positive for coronavirus in the past week, a dip from last week’s tally of 2,554 cases, the latest figures show.
The weekly report published on Thursdays by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education lists 2,054 students and 345 staff tested positive for the coronavirus from Sept. 23 to Wednesday.
This week’s count represents a decrease of 155 cases from a tally of 2,554 cases the week prior, when 2,236 students and 318 staff tested positive.
Coronavirus pool testing is being used in more than 2,200 public and private schools, about double last year’s count, according to DESE.
Boston Public Schools reported 28 student cases and 15 staff cases in the past week.
Districts with the most cases in the past week include: Springfield, 80; New Bedford, 70; Worcester, 68; Fall River and Leominster, 56; Lynn, 44; Boston, 43; Lawrence, 40; Lowell and Haverhill, 39; and 38 cases in Brockton.
A total of 6,373 coronavirus cases have been reported in the weekly infection reports that started Sept. 16.
Earlier this week, Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced that students and staff will have to continue to mask up in class through at least Nov. 1.
“The best interest of students and staff as they return safely to full-time, in-person instruction this fall is at the forefront of my decision,” Riley said as officials extended the mask mandate.
“Wearing masks is an important additional measure to keep students in school safely at this time,” he added. “As health conditions evolve, we will continue to work with medical experts to find masking off ramps for our youngest students who are not yet eligible for vaccines.”
The mandate requires all public K-12 students, educators and staff to wear masks unless 80% or more are vaccinated at their schools.
With no remote learning options allowed this year, all kids are back to school in person full time. Across all grade levels, an estimated 920,000 students and 140,000 staff are now participating in some form of in-person learning.
The report includes the number of positive COVID19 cases as reported to DESE by school districts including charter schools and collaboratives.
The number of positive cases for students and staff includes those who are enrolled or employed by the district.
Students who are unvaccinated or are not yet eligible for vaccination are at a high risk of catching the coronavirus.