A total of 32 active cases of COVID-19 are being reported at Addison Elementary School in Northeast Cobb, the largest number for any school this week in the Cobb County School District.
The district released its weekly COVID report on Friday, showing 658 active cases.
That’s down from the range of around 1K in each of the last three weeks, but it reflects a shortened school week due to the Labor Day holiday on Monday.
Since July 1, there have been 4,402 cases among students and staff. Addison had eight cases prior to this week, and is not the first elementary school in East Cobb with such large numbers.
For 10 days last month the entire 5th grade at East Side Elementary School went to remote learning due to an outbreak.
Rocky Mount Elementary School in Northeast Cobb has 24 active cases, more than doubling its previous cumulative total.
There are 13 cases at Lassiter High School and Dickerson Middle School is reporting 11 active cases this week.
Earlier this week the Cobb Board of Health approved a position statement urging universal masking in schools, a direct response to the Cobb school district’s masks-optional policy.
The guidance comes from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics, and includes several other provisions to combat growing numbers of cases and hospitalizations among school-age children.
Cobb superintendent Chris Ragsdale, a member of the board of health, abstained from voting, saying the district is following the other protocols, and indicated that “97 percent [of students and staff] are COVID-free.”
In Cobb County, the spread of COVID-19 remains high due to the Delta variant. Cobb and Douglas Public Health report that as of Thursday, there is a 14-day average of just under 800 cases per 100,000 people. “High community spread” is a two-week average of 100/100K.
Related stories
- Cobb Board of Health urges ‘universal masking’ in schools
- Cobb schools report 947 COVID-19 cases for week of Aug. 30
- Cobb schools report 1K+ COVID-19 cases; 69 at Sprayberry HS
- Cobb schools report nearly 1K weekly COVID-19 cases
- Cobb schools won’t impose mask mandate; revising quarantine
- Cobb school board erupts over discussion of COVID-19 issues
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The holiday weekend doesn’t come into play when it comes to the numbers. Besides the fact that people report to schools 7 days a week, anyone who tested positive on Monday would have reported to the school on Tuesday at the latest.
The start of every school year, a now-retired teacher friend of mine got a cold. It was almost a running joke – she had vitamin c, zinc, and vitamin d always handy by the end of July to be ready for its onset. That went on for the better part of 25 years.
How many of these cases are, in reality, just the annual common cold? We will never know because they’re all lumped together. The list of covid symptoms reads like the back of a bottle of Pepto-Bismol. I’m not saying that it’s not out there, but I am saying that the numbers are being skewed.
Masks are not forbidden – they’re optional. If you’re nervous about covid, then wear them, by all means. If they are made mandatory again and you’re not in favor of that, then the option of homeschooling is always available – look into options that would work for you with that option.
A county-wide number of 3% (which shouldn’t include the Marietta City School District, but I don’t know for sure what numbers are being used – that number could be even lower) having covid should not be high enough to mandate that all kids (and, I’m guessing, teachers and staff) wear masks. We’re heading into allergy, cold, and flu seasons – of course the number of kids and staff being sick is going to be higher. Are they all covid? No.
I…I think you missed the part where they are actually being tested for Covid and testing positive…the numbers don’t reflect “common cold” illness…just Covid…
I know for a fact these are positive cases!
Sylvia, the numbers being reported are confirmed positive Covid tests. The school system does not allow at home tests, these are kids receiving positive PCR tests. Get your head out of your rear end.
My daughter is in third grade. We’re in the middle of this. It IS what’s happening. If anything, the numbers are under reported!
Would you be willing o share with us the information you acquired to come to this conclusion?