Today I taught at a school that became a Hot Zone as the day progressed.

[no_hypocrisy]

Nine students (half my class) were mysteriously told to pack up to go home at 10:30, 2-1/2 hours after school began. Two more were taken away after Lunch. And almost every 10 minutes, the Office PA requested individual students to pack up and report to the Nurse.

I don't believe I'm extrapolating incorrectly. That many kids in such a short period of time spells COVID.

I'm not worried as I got my booster shot four days ago and all of us were wearing masks.

I'm just concerned about that many kids had to leave school for public health reasons.

The pediatric vaccine for Covid can't come soon enough for me.

[elleng]

1. I'd be concerned too, and glad the school's taking action.

My daughter told me last night that her 2 kids/my grands had been 'exposed' on school bus; I've heard no more. (Kindergarten and 2d grade.)

[ProfessorGAC]

2. School Around Here Had A Similar...

...but smaller event.
12 out of 1,300 students in the same week.
Fortunately, it's one of only 2 schools within 30 miles that hit the "outbreak" list which is more than 2 in a week, independent of school size.
I only sub at schools within an 18 mile radius of home. And, not in every available district. So, aside from this one school, where I go very seldom, cases have been very low. Should be noted that I only do Jr Hi & HS, so I'm only around the ages eligible for the vaccines. I don't know what % of students are vaxxed, but I'm sure it's not zero.

[drexelkathy]

3. In all fairness

I don’t know where you are, but in NJ…my son has already had to have one Covid test. (As have several classmates)

My neighbor’s son has had to have either 3
Or 4 (can’t remember)

They’ve all been negative.

My son has seasonal allergies…symptoms can be the same.

He hit two “categories” because he coughed and sneezed and had a runny nose. Same with my neighbor’s son.

And then anyone deemed “in close contact” (meaning sitting at a lunch table, etc together) is also required to test.


Those kids could all be negative, but if one or two exhibit any potential symptoms, protocols require exclusion and testing.

It’s actually quite a bit of a hassle for us parents that have kids with allergies. My neighbor has lost several days at work because of it. I’m lucky in that I only do consulting from home and am mostly a SAHM, so it hasn’t impacted me, except for the hassle of having to sit and get a test I knew would be negative.


Hopefully you just witnessed a cluster like that. It happens a lot here…one kid has a cold or allergies…and then a bunch have to get tested and excluded.

[Ms. Toad]

8. On the other hand -

My employee with "allergies" infected her entire family of five, included her vaccinated spouse. (It wasn't really allergies.) She was fully vaccinated, and is one of the most careful people I know.

[elleng]

12. My daughter, in NJ, told me her 2 kids,

my grands, were 'exposed, on a school bus.' I don't know what the plans are, now.

[marie999]

4. Mt great-grandson who is in the 9th grade has been quarantined 4 times already

because someone in his class had Covid-19. Luckily he has not got it. I am totally pissed at his parents because he has not received the vaccine.

[IronLionZion]

5. Good that everyone is masked

there are unmasked schools out there in red areas with lots of unvaccinated people

[Freddie]

6. My grandkids will be first in line

When they authorize vaccines for ages 5 to 11. Can’t come soon enough.

[rpannier]

7. Could be. But am curious

Do they take temperatures a few times a day?
At our kids schools (3) here in Japan they take temperatures before getting on school grounds, at the end of period 0 (aka homeroom), before lunch, after lunch and before they go home.
If they have 37.1 to 37.5 they are moved to the health center, if it's 37.6 or higher they go home - family member must get them even at end of day.
Being sent home has happened twice to our high school daughter, 1 of the twins (ms) has been sent home 3 times, the other never, two of the triplets have been sent home(one wasnt allowed at school when she was tested at the enttance gate), the other never.
This has been since the start of the school year -April
None had Covid. But, it's part of prevention.
Your school may do something similar as well

[mchill]

9. You have twins & triplets? 😮

[rpannier]

11. Yes

And all girls
We decided not to have more after the twins, but fate gave us 3 more.
I had the surgery and that was it

[wnylib]

10. There is a family owned convenience store

in my neighborhood. On Monday one of the employees told me that he looked forward to taking his 5 year old daughter trick or treating this year, but she wasn't feeling well. On Wednesday I asked how she was doing. He said she ran a 102 fever for a couple days, but was getting back to her normal self. I raised my eyebrows and asked what she had. He said he didn't know, but "Don't worry. It's not covid." I asked if she was tested for it and he said no.

Today I stopped in briefly for milk. The owner's daughter was filling in for him because he called in sick. She sounded skeptical because it's Friday. I said that his daughter had been sick so maybe he caught whatever it was. She looked alarmed to hear that. I was alarmed to hear that he was sick.

Fortunately, I am vaccinated, always wear an N95 in the store, and was never closer to him physically than the other side of the counter. Always wash my hands as soon as I get in the door at home. Don't know if he or his daughter contracted covid, but there's a good chance that they did. My community is averaging 200 new cases per week.