3 Oakland County schools appear on outbreak list

Of the 98 total COVID-19 school outbreaks in Michigan for the week ending Nov. 29, eight occurred at three schools in Oakland County.

An outbreak, as defined by the state, is two or more cases that have shared exposure on school grounds and are from different households.

At Sayre Elementary in South Lyon two outbreaks were reported involving both staff and students.

A North Farmington High School, where classes are virtual at least through Dec. 8 due to an order from the state, an outbreak involving three staff members was reported.

At Rochester University, which is also virtual due to a state order, an outbreak involving three students was reported. Case counts for school- related outbreaks include those associated with before- and afterschool programs (including school- sponsored sports). When applicable, outbreak reporting also includes cases originating from oncampus and off-campus student housing. Ongoing outbreaks continue to be listed at six school sites in Oakland County including Oakland University which has had 30 outbreaks involving both students and staff.

Ongoing outbreaks are those that had already been identified in previous weeks but have had at least one new associated case reported to the local health department in the last 28 days.

Others on the ongoing list include Novi’s Thornton Creek Elementary with three cases (staff and students) reported on Nov. 23; Glengary Elementary in Commerce Township with two cases (staff) reported on Sept. 14; Our Lady of Refuge in Orchard Lake with 14 cases (students and staff) on Nov. 16; Bloomfield Christian School with two outbreaks (staff and students) reported on Nov. 9; Lawrence Tech University in Southfield with six outbreaks (students) reported on Oct. 19.

Universities top the list of ongoing outbreaks with Michigan State at 2,081; Grand Valley State at 1,050; Western Michigan at 882; and the University of Michigan at 691. Outbreaks are removed for the list when there are no new confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases identified after 28 days have passed since the last known school exposure from a case.

An order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services which took effect on Nov. 18 banned in-person learning at high schools, along with colleges and universities, for three weeks.