Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. is reporting four new COVID-19 cases this week.
Since school reopened on Aug. 10, BCSC has reported a total of 29 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases.
Superintendent Jim Roberts said that of this number, 20 are students and nine are staff members. Of the 20 students, 12 were enrolled in remote learning.
Seven cases have come from Columbus East High School. Four are from Richards Elementary. The administration building, Clifty Creek Elementary, Columbus Signature Academy New Tech, Mt. Healthy Elementary, Columbus North High School and Smith Elementary each have had two cases.
The following schools have had one case each: Busy Bees Academy, Central Middle School, Columbus Signature Academy Fodrea, Columbus Signature Academy Lincoln, Parkside Elementary and Southside Elementary.
Roberts said that a total of 474 close contacts have been identified due to internal and external exposure to positive test cases. He added that the “vast majority” of these contacts are due to external positive cases.
In-person learning will continue for BCSC after fall break, school officials said. Fall break takes place Monday through Friday; classes resume on Oct. 12.
The COVID-19 Community Task Force’s latest update shows that while most indicators are in the minimal spread category, per capita rate is in moderate spread and nearing substantial spread.
The COVID-19 dashboard indicators are intended to guide the school corporation on deciding whether or not schools can continue to meet for in-person learning, which began Aug. 10.
Whether or not in-person learning continues at BCSC depends on whether certain COVID-19 data indicates that the school system is in a “minimal,” “moderate” or “substantial” spread category. Roberts has said in the past that an overall designation of substantial spread would result in a move to eLearning.
Thursday’s report from the task force showed the following:
There are six new positive cases, and the number is increasing (as of Sept. 23)
The per capita positive rate is 9.4 and increasing (as of Sept. 30)
The percent positive test rate is 4.6 and decreasing (as of Sept. 26)
There are five COVID hospitalizations, and the number is increasing (as of Sept. 30)
Test turnaround time is at 2.7 days and decreasing (as of Sept. 30)
Per capita rate is in the moderate spread category. If it rises to above 10, it will be in the substantial spread category.
Percent positive test rate, test turnaround time and hospitalizations are in the minimal spread category.
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The COVID-19 Community Task Force posts updates on community spread every Monday and Thursday at covid19communitytaskforce.org/data/.
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