Superintendent Weekly Press Release November 6, 2020
Dear Cedar Bluffs Families,
COVID RISK LEVEL: ORANGE
For the Week of November 9th, the COVID risk dial moves higher into Orange hitting 2.63. Last week the risk dial was 2.00. This is a sizeable move but not unexpected considering the conditions throughout the State. All counties went up with Dodge moving from 2.00 to 2.50, Saunders from 2.00 to 2.63 and Washington from 1.88 to 2.25. I am hearing hospitals are nearing capacity in Nebraska as our Nation recorded over 120,000 new cases in one day this week. It is less about the hospital bed capacity as it is about the number of staff in our hospitals who have been working tirelessly through all of this. I cannot thank all of the nurses, doctors and hospital workers for all they have done. And as you heard Dr. Anthone speak in the Governor’s press release Thursday, the virus is an inanimate object. It cannot spread without us. It is only through our actions and our behaviors that the virus can spread. We all need to do our part to keep the virus from spreading. Governor Ricketts again stated that we should all be following the 3 C’s rules by avoiding closed spaces, crowded places, confined areas and wear your mask while in public.
TOTAL POSITIVE: 10-Students, 23-Parent(s)/Family Members, 13-Staff
THIS WEEK POSITIVE: 3-Students, 6-Parent(s)/Family Members, 1-Staff CURRENT QUARANTINE: 53
After the past two weeks of having multiple staff test positive, this week we have seen only one new positive case within our staff and we have one symptomatic staff member quarantined awaiting results. I truly believe it was imperative that we identified our asymptomatic staff last week and quarantined them so we could stop the spread. We have gotten several staff back so far and expect more to return after their isolation and quarantine time is over. We still have 5 staff in quarantine at this time. I hope you were able to read the ESU2 consortium letter and my press release Thursday that described new changes to our Back to School Guide. If not you can find that here: https://www.cedarbluffsschools.org/article/341670?org=district&fbclid=IwAR3MPiC8C0TJPNhv9PuV-EHJHhySfdGklWvWKdXX6PCV091uUIqpNDq-6is
This week we have seen three students and six family members test positive causing numerous quarantines. The quarantine number above includes all quarantined students and staff but not family members. Sixteen of the fifty-three quarantined are awaiting COVID test results while the remaining thirty-seven are in quarantine because of a positive close contact or a positive family member. Also, we are seeing anywhere from twenty to thirty students gone per day with symptoms. We want to remind you that if your child has two or more symptoms (or one significant symptom like loss of smell or taste) they must stay home 10 days or have a doctor’s note with an alternative diagnosis or a negative test result to return earlier but still must be 24 hours symptom free. This is Three Rivers directive that all schools in the area follow. If a student goes home with one symptom they can return to school without a doctor’s note or negative test result but must be symptom free for 24 hours. If while recovering at home, your child develops more than one symptom or has prolonged sickness please follow the 2 symptoms or more directives from Three Rivers Health.
This week NSAA released their guidelines for Winter sports informing schools that they are expecting to move forward with Wrestling and Basketball. Our Athletic Director is currently working on guidelines and safety protocols so that we may participate in these events safely. I do know masks will be required for all spectators, there will be no concessions and there might be a limited number of spectators allowed. All of our Winter sports will be recorded and broadcast live on Hudl. Look for those details as we get closer to the season. #WildcatPride