The South Central Calhoun (SCC) Community School District is reporting a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases and flu-like symptoms in students and teachers over the first two weeks of classes. On Aug. 23, which was the first day of classes at SCC, Calhoun County reported a 14-day rolling average of 29 positive cases, but that average more than tripled to 100 as of Sept. 7. Superintendent, Brad Anderson, says they cannot attribute this sharp rise in cases solely to the start of school, but he believes it certainly is a factor.
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Absenteeism due to COVID is around 6.5 percent at SCC, but Anderson is concerned they could easily break the 10-percent threshold for reporting set by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) if current trends continue. For comparison, Anderson says absenteeism during a particularly bad influenza season is generally around seven percent. In a message sent to families Tuesday, Anderson and the other SCC administrators strongly encourage parents and students to consider voluntary participation in recommended mitigation strategies.
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Anderson says superintendents from throughout the state find themselves in a similar situation.
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On a positive note, Anderson says Calhoun County is in the top third of Iowa with nearly 64 percent of individuals 18 years old and older fully vaccinated as of Sept. 7. According to the IDPH, 30 Iowans have died of COVID-19 so far this month.