COVID-19 attacks schools in NWI
Hundreds reported in quarantine throughout region’s school districts
Hundreds of individuals in quarantine from school districts across Northwest Indiana.
At least 550 individuals are currently in quarantine and more than 60 active COVID-19 cases have been reported throughout school districts across Lake and Porter counties as many districts work to close out their second week of in-person learning for the semester.
Some districts, such as Union Township Schools, have announced a move to online learning until February due to a rise in COVID-19 cases and the number of close contacts needing to quarantine. “We have experienced a sudden increase of positive cases in both the high school and our middle school,” a message sent to families by Superintendent John Hunter reads. “Our administrative team has met to review these numbers and develop a plan that would best keep our students and staff safe as we navigate through these cases and the large number of students who have been identified as close contacts.”
Tri-Creek School Corp. announced Jan. 17 that five inperson students and one virtual student from Lowell High School had tested positive, resulting in the quarantine of 116 students and one staff member.
Though the number of quarantined students was high, the number of quarantined staff members was low, which meant the high school could continue with inperson learning, Superintendent Rod Gardin said in a message to families.
“At this time, we are not experiencing any staffing difficulties, so in-person learning will continue at the high school,” he wrote. “If more cases emerge, more students are quarantined, or if we have staffing issues, it may be necessary for the high school to move to at-home virtual learning.”
On Jan. 19, the district announced two students at Lowell Middle School tested positive and 59 students were deemed close contacts. However, like the high school, staffing is still adequate, so in-person learning will continue, Gardin said.
Lake Central School Corp., which began in-person learning again Jan. 11, reported positive cases in 21 students and three staff members across the district, and 233 students and 23 staff members are currently in quarantine.
Lake Central High School alone saw 11 positive cases in students and two positive cases in staff members, with 72 students and four staff members in quarantine.
Valparaiso Community Schools, too, reported positive cases this week, with two at Thomas Jefferson Middle School and six positive cases throughout the district reported Jan. 15.
As vaccines roll out across the state, 1,826 new student positive cases, 302 new teacher positive cases and 325 new staff positive cases have been reported, according to the Indiana State Department of Health dashboard.
“The virus continues to spread without any indication of slowing down,” Tri-Creek Superintendent Gardin wrote in the Jan. 19 message. “I am hopeful that the vaccine will become more widely available soon. However, getting vaccinated will not end the use of safety protocols. While a vaccinated person will be protected from the virus, a vaccinated person can still spread the virus to others who have not been vaccinated.”