Students quarantined after private party

Fisher: Individuals not cooperating with contact tracing efforts

“This is why we didn’t have Homecoming,” Aaron Rex, superintendent of Wapakoneta City Schools, said Friday, reacting to the news a rumored Homecoming- themed weekend party resulted in both positive COVID- 19 diagnoses and student quarantines.

After that private social gathering last weekend caused 35 Wapakoneta students to be ordered out of the classroom, Rex explained the spread of the virus is exactly why school officials postponed homecoming events — typically held in the fall — this year.

“As of yesterday afternoon we had two students in the district out due to positive tests, but another 35 were out due to having COVIDIIKE symptoms,” Rex said Friday morning. “We had 77 students out due to quarantine, and then the health department notified us they would be quarantining 22 more due to a private party that was hosted over the weekend.”

The situation is the opposite of what school officials have been asking staff and students to do outside the classroom. It further underscores what health officials have said all along — that the spread of the coronavirus is happening after school, as well at large gatherings such as weddings and funerals.

“( Students) are missing out on activities and assignments while they aren’t here,” Rex said.

Currently, 4.5 percent of Wapakoneta students are absent, which he called “not an alarming number.” In comparison, Delphos City Schools will close through Tuesday, with three positive tests and more than 45 quarantined in that district.

Rex said their goal is to keep schools open. Four staff members are currently out due to the coronavirus and 10 are quarantined.

“These positive results have affected various aspects of school such as cafeteria, bus drivers, teachers, paraeducators, maintenance, and administration,” Rex said.

Auglaize County Health Commissioner Oliver Fisher said the coronavirus spread among students was more from social gatherings outside of school hours where facemarks aren’t being worn and social distancing isn’t being followed.

Fisher said they want people to consider “safety first.”

He also reported the health department was getting less cooperation from the community for contact tracing efforts than when the virus initially began. He said more people are only giving out their household members as close contacts and not including those at work or school.

Fisher said individuals have been somewhat hateful or belligerent toward health department staff. He said staff were just doing their jobs as mandated by the state.

Contact tracing helps keep the community safe. Fisher said email addresses and home addresses allow health officials to better stay in contact with those who have been infected.

“We don’t see a reason why they would want to lie about who they’ve been in contact with,” Fisher said. “It’s not a punitive action — it’s a safety precaution.”

“When we hear about positive cases and make phone calls home are that are not always welcomed or comfortable, I remind myself that being at school is what is best for our kids,” Rex said. “We will continue to do everything we can to make sure our young people can attend.”