As the 2022-2023 school year is starting up at Watauga High School, students begin to return to packed classrooms and sporting events; the fear of COVID cases increasing becomes a reality yet again. Along with understanding this increase of cases, parents and students should learn what new protocols are in place and how they can stay safe.
“We have seen an increase but we expected this with all the students coming back together for school and sporting events,” said Nurse Shelly Klutz, lead registered nurse for Watauga County Schools. “The first week of school we had 2 positive cases reported and the second week we had 17 cases reported.”
Klutz makes sure to remind that “in reality these numbers are probably higher due to positives that have not been reported and/or students not being tested when symptomatic.”
When comparing these cases with the cases from the same time last year, Klutz said, “There is not much difference in the number of positives that have been reported from last year to this year.”
This might come as a surprise to students who have seen vacant seats in their classes, but numbers are truly the same.
“I do believe our positive numbers would have been a lot higher last year if we had not been masking and quarantining close contacts,” said Klutz.
Even administrators haven’t seen a huge increase in cases.
When looking at the numbers now compared to last year, Administrator Rachel Shepard stated, “As far as I know it doesn't seem to be very different than what it was at the end of last school year”.
Though the cases may not be much different than last year, protocols for those that do get infected are.
Klutz clarified that the protocols are as follows, “Students that test positive need to remain out of school and in isolation for 5 days from the first day of their first symptom (the first day is counted as day zero) and then remained masked for an additional 5 days.”
Klutzs then explained, “I do believe these measures would slow the spread, if students were being tested when having any symptoms of COVID."
Students need to be honest about the symptoms they are feeling and not dismiss them as something to not worry about.
“We find a lot of students saying they thought is was just allergies and do not get tested until several days after symptoms begin, at this point exposure has already occurred,” said Klutz.
For those students who receive close contact warnings or general exposure, the nurse has some advice.
“[The] best practice would be wear a mask up to 10 days as well as get tested after initial exposure and again 5 days after exposure,” said Klutz. “For household contacts we are request masking and testing every 48 hours for 10 days.”
It is to be noted, however, that these are not protocols and just suggestions.
Klutz gave some additional information and suggestions for those trying to stay as safe as possible. “The best thing we can do is stay home when sick, get tested immediately, wear a mask if you have to be out, get vaccinated, and practice good hand and respiratory hygiene.”
Klutz went on to remind parents and students, “The Bivalent Booster was recently approved by the FDA and CDC. This booster contains 2 components. The original variant of SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron BA4 and BA5 which are the dominant strains at this time”.
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