COVID cases, exposure have 260 Gwinnett school employees not working

[teach1st]

Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The largest school district in the state reported Sunday that 260 employees have tested positive for the coronavirus or are in quarantine because of possible exposure as they prepare for the new school year.

Gwinnett County Public School teachers began in-person pre-planning Wednesday at the 141 facilities throughout the county. By the next day, approximately 260 employees had been excluded from work due to a positive case or contact with a case.

The number is fluid, said Gwinnett spokeswoman Sloan Roach, as new reports come in and others move out of quarantine after a period of time.

“Through tracing, we know that the majority of these cases are the result of community spread, meaning we have people who have called in to report who have not been at school or work,” Roach added.

Read more: https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/covid-cases-exposure-have-260-gwinnett-school-employees-not-working/RVZP4UFBPFHDNJJ73MNUFIKEPY/

[Hortensis]

1. No surprise. Our grandson's Gwinnet County middle school

had planned both virtual and socially distanced campus classes, an either-or choice for parents. Our son and DIL had chosen campus for social reasons. But immediately after the new data came out that kids that age are just as susceptible to the virus as adults, a couple weeks ago, their school district announced classes would be virtual only. There'll inevitably be some infected and merely exposed teachers among theirs, but presumably most asymptomatic and just quarantined teachers will be able to work remotely as planned.

Running a school district in normal times must be seeming like a piece of cake compared to this.

[groundloop]

2. I'm glad a few districts in the state have some sense - Paulding County superintendent is a moron

He sent a video to staff which supposedly addressed how the district is prepared to deal with the pandemic, it was nothing but happy talk. He merely "suggested" that students and teachers wear masks and socially distance. He's kissing Kemp's ass, who is kissing tRump's ass, and people will get sick (and sadly some will die) because of his negligence. Student's have the option to do school from home but so far only about 25 percent are doing that.

[Hortensis]

3. Ouch. Isn't eastern Paulding at least part of metro Atlanta?

I wouldn't be surprised if that changed, especially the parents' attitudes, as it did in Gwinnett County.

In fact -- yup! It's a Paulding HS's football team I just heard is now discovered to have several cases. I assume football's as vital to the educational process there as in Gwinnett and that'll grab attention.

My sympathies to the teachers. The unnecessary risk to everyone, but those at higher risk in particular, is inexcusable.