The 2021/2022 school year is now underway across the Mountain State. However, despite the optimism generated by a fresh beginning, the threat of COVID-19 (particularly the Delta variant) still covers the new academic year in a blanket of uncertainty.
In Pocahontas County, students returned to their school buildings on Wednesday, August 18. But in stark contradiction to the way the previous academic year ended, no one entering the buildings was required to wear a face covering.
As outlined in the 2021-2022 Pocahontas County School’s Revised Re-entry Plan: “Face coverings and masks are optional for students, employees, or visitors in the buildings. Face masks/coverings are required on school buses by employees and students.”
While the plan does require the use of face coverings on school buses, it makes no account for those arriving by other means.
The plan further explains: “The Pocahontas County Board of Education voted to not use the WVDHHR daily map to determine the requirement to use masks/face coverings. Only by a mandate from the Governor or DHHR will masks/face coverings be required.
All people entering the schools must also have their temperature read upon arrival by a scanner that is located at the front entrance.”
The WVDHHR daily map, which for the majority of the previous school year was recognized by all county school’s as the “final word” regarding COVID-19 protocols, currently designates Pocahontas County as “yellow.” The positivity-rate within the county has increased from 0.46% on August 25, to 3.42% as of Tuesday, September 1. Even more concerning, however, is Pocahontas’ infection rate, which has risen by more than 20-percent within the last seven days.
While no COVID-related deaths have been reported within Pocahontas County since August 25, the 116 laboratory tests performed have resulted in the identification of 38 new cases. Of those 38 cases, 12 have been detected in young-people under the age of 20. And out of the 12, nine are below the age of 15-years.
This means that children 15-years-of-age and younger account for nearly 24% of all identified cases of COVID-19 in Pocahontas County within the last seven-day period; two of which have been confirmed to be the Delta variant of the virus.
Since the return to school on August 18, officials at Pocahontas County Schools have reported the identification of two cases of COVID-19 at Green Bank Elementary/Middle School, four cases of COVID-19 at Marlinton Elementary School, and five cases of COVID-19 at Pocahontas County High School. While these nine cases may not necessarily involve students, they are confirmed to be individuals associated with the individual school buildings.
Several social media posts made over the past week by Pocahontas County School officials presented an all-to-familiar message: “All measures have been taken with contact tracing completed by the Pocahontas County Health Department and by School Nurse Jenny Friel. Deep cleaning protocols by the custodial and transportation staff will continue and all precautions are in place. We will continue to work with the Pocahontas County Health Department and will continue to inform our families and community of COVID-19 cases within the schools. Please understand that the utmost regard to confidentiality must be observed and is required in all cases. Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep our students and staff safe.”
To date, 3,984 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Pocahontas, accounting for 48.3% of the county’s population. This is a full three-percent below the state’s current number of 51.4% vaccinated. Only three doses of the vaccine have been administered in Pocahontas County within the last seven-days.
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