Red Bluff elementary school district shut down by COVID
August surge sees 1,229 new cases
RED BLUFF >> A surge in Tehama County’s coronavirus cases has resulted in the Red Bluff Union Elementary School District closing down its schools for more than a week.
The closure is set to begin Friday and will last through Sept. 13. The district plans to instruct students through distance learning for the duration of the closure.
Students picked up Chromebooks at their respective school sites Friday.
Meal pick-ups will be available 7:15-8 a.m. Tuesday through Friday. Monday is the Labor Day holiday.
In an announcement to parents and guardians Thursday night, the district said over the last week, anywhere between 250 and 400 of its students and staff have been out because of quarantining.
“This impact is being observed at every site and is accelerating,” the announcement said. “Despite this, we have attempted to remain open and mitigate the effects.”
COVID-19 cases in Tehama County continue to rise rapidly, according to a press release issued Friday by Tehama County Public Health. Ninety-three new positive cases were received on Aug. 31 alone, bringing the total number of positive cases in August to 1,229. In contrast, the positive cases in May were 161, June had 67 cases and in July there were 157 positive cases.
After discussions with Tehama County Public Health about the best course of action, it was recommended the school district close down for a short period of time.
The district was not the first in Red Bluff to be affected this school year by the pandemic.
The Antelope Elementary School District closed Antelope Elementary School Aug. 30 through Friday due to the high number of COVID-19 cases in the county.
Antelope Superintendent Jim Weber said the intent is to reopen the school Tuesday.
At the Tehama County Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 2, Health Services Agency Executive Director Val Lucero gave a report on COVID cases in the county.
In the seven-day period of Aug. 23-29, Tehama County had 371 new COVID-19 cases for an average of 53 new cases per day, Lucero said.
Nearly 522 people were in active isolation as of Friday, and 17 people were hospitalized with the virus.