SHPA COVID-19 Response Update

Last week proved especially challenging for many schools across the state as nearly 750 schools reported 5 or more positive cases in a two-week reporting period. We also experienced a marked increase in positive cases. Letters from the MDE and MDH/AAP were sent to schools and families in response to the surge. In consulting with the MDH, we were reassured that the layered mitigations we have in place along with our ongoing responsive efforts are working to contain the spread as much as possible at this time. 

Below is student data from a 11/13-22 reporting period: the increase in cases is concerning, but most were separate cases occurring across two campuses and among three programs:

• Positive Cases During 11/13-22: 16  
• Positivity Rate During 11/13-22: 1.4%
• Positive Cases by Program During 11/13-22: Bloomington Elementary = 7; Richfield Elementary = 5; Richfield Middle = 4
• Total Positive Cases To Date, 9/7 – 11/22: 59 or 5%
• Total Quarantines to Date, 9/2 -11/22: 247 or 22%

We continue to strive to balance keeping our students healthy and safe while also learning and growing in school. From our contact tracing conversations with families, we are able to confirm that nearly all of our infection locations have occurred in a community setting and not within our school buildings. With this in mind, and ahead of the upcoming holiday break, we are offering the following information updates and reminders so we can safely enjoy the time off together and return to school healthy and well:

• School Communications: We are streamlining communications to focus our limited staffing and resources more efficiently on contact tracing and testing. Active positive cases and quarantines as well as the totals for each are updated every Friday on our COVID-19 Webpage dashboard. The MDH weekly report, including schools statewide with 5 or more cases, can also be found under the Resources tab along with much other information. We will continue to communicate to our families any positive case clusters as well as any important updates to our response plan.

• Contact Tracing: We appreciate the understanding and support of our families in cooperation with our quarantine process and testing program. These measures have effectively limited any further transmission in nearly all of our cases. We will continue to quarantine only close contact students seated near a positive case while not wearing face coverings during the lunch period. We will continue to send test kits home with these students and test them on-site when capacity permits. Other students not considered close contacts will receive a symptom monitoring email.

• Additional Mitigations: Please keep children home if they are symptomatic or known to have been exposed and have them tested. The face covering requirement inside our school buildings remains in place. We continue to change air filters more frequently and use of portable HEPA filters in areas where there may be greater risk of transmission. Finally, we encourage children to get vaccinated (and adults vaccinated and boosted), and we look forward to hosting our second-dose vaccine clinics on Friday, December 3rd, according to the previous process and schedule.

As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month and the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we hope you all enjoy the safe, warm, and fortunate company of family and friends,

The SHPA COVID-19 Response Team