Superintendent Weekly Press Release October 9, 2020
Dear Cedar Bluffs Families,
COVID RISK LEVEL: YELLOW
For the Week of October 12th, we fall further into Yellow from a 1.88 to a 1.63 overall. Dodge and Washington counties have stayed the same, but Saunders county fell from 1.75 to 1.63. Three Rivers states that even though the State of Nebraska is rising overall, our counties have fallen due to more testing of A-symptom workers in highly sensitive areas like long term care facilities and nursing homes. Monday you saw a presentation by UNMC staff who are concerned that Nebraska has escalated in COVID cases. They ask Nebraskans to not engage in risky behavior and continue with safety protocols as we enter a tentative time. Nebraska ranks 7th in the United States for daily new cases.
TOTAL YEAR COVID POSITIVE: 0-Students, 4-Parent(s)/Family Members, 0-Staff, 1-Exposures at School
This week we had a possible exposure as an employee and two secondary students who were in school on Monday October 5th were contacted by Three Rivers Health through contract tracing that they were required to quarantine from a close contact with a positively tested individual. This employee and students are showing no signs but must wait until October 18th before they may return. If they show symptoms prior to that date a contract trace will begin at school and anyone that may have been exposed may be contacted if warranted by Three Rivers Health. There is a very low chance of exposure since all students and staff are required to wear masks, so I do not think this is likely, but I also think full transparency is best. We also had another elementary student and high school student who were showing COVID related symptoms, so they made the choice to be tested and are quarantined awaiting results. The elementary student quarantined on Sunday so no exposures at school, however the secondary student was in school both Monday and Tuesday before falling ill. Lastly UNMC put out a statement this week, seen below. #WildcatPride
“We are entering a dangerous period for our state in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The largest surge of cases and hospitalizations we have seen is currently upon us. We know how to beat this virus, but we’ve gotten complacent. COVID-19 has now killed nearly 500 Nebraskans, and many more are likely to die if we don’t take more action immediately. Nebraskans have a long history of helping our neighbors to work through the most difficult tragedies – floods, ice storms, tornadoes and droughts. We need to find that spirit of community now more than ever to overcome COVID-19.
We can’t emphasize this enough: COVID-19 ISN’T a political or ideological issue. Our advice is the same regardless of political leadership at any level.”