COVID in the classroom: One Pine Belt school district quarantines 2,074 students
One Pine Belt school district had over 2,000 students in quarantine last week due to the omicron variant of COVID-19. The spike in cases has some Pine Belt school districts requiring masks for students and staff. Other school districts are leaving masks optional.
Here's an update on the masking requirements and number of COVD-19 infections and students in quarantine recently at area county schools.
Lamar County School District
In the Lamar County School District, masks are recommended in the classroom and required on district transportation. Free COVID-19 testing is available at each school.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, 111 employees and 384 students tested positive for COVID-19. There were 184 employees and 2,074 students quarantined.
Hattiesburg Public School District
The Hattiesburg Public School District's Safe Return Plan, revised Jan. 11, states staff, students and visitors are required to wear masks indoors and when in the presence of others. The district is also testing over 600 staff and students weekly for COVID-19 and offers free rapid testing at any time for staff and students.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, 23 employees and 121 students tested positive for COVID-19. Eighteen employees and 223 students were quarantined.
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Petal School District
The Petal School District's Return to School Plan, revised Jan. 3, states that masks are recommended for staff and students in the classroom and masks should be worn during small group instruction. Masks are recommended on the school bus.
The plan also states that the superintendent may require masks for all students and staff if the number of quarantined students exceeds10% of an individual school’s population.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, 23 employees and 126 students tested positive for COVID-19. Seventeen employees and 342 students were quarantined.
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Forrest County School District
In the Forrest County School District, staff are required to wear masks while masks are recommended for students, Superintendent Brian Freeman said Friday.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, between 22 and 38 employees and 120 students tested positive for COVID-19, according to Mississippi State Department of Health data. There were 68 employees and 421 students were quarantined.
Forrest County Agricultural High School
The Forrest County Agricultural High School District began requiring masks on campus on Jan. 12 due to a high quarantine numbers in the district. The mask policy will be reassessed on Jan. 31 to determine if it should expire or be extended.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, seven employees and 41 students tested positive for COVID-19, according to MSDH data. One employee and 175 students were quarantined.
Laurel School District
In the Laurel School District, students, employees and visitors are required to wear masks.
Some schools underwent schedule changes due to COVID-19, a Jan. 14 announcement from the district stated. Mason Elementary School, Laurel Middle School and Laurel High School are virtual through Friday.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, 23 employees and 58 students tested positive for COVID-19. There were eight employees and 174 students quarantined.
Jones County School District
The Jones County School District is requiring masks if the population of a school testing positive exceeds 3.5%.
During the week of Jan. 10-14, at least 49 employees and 345 students tested positive for COVID-19, according to MSDH data. At least 33 employees and 1,012 students were quarantined.
Contact reporter Laurel Thrailkill at lthrailkill@gannett.com or on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: COVID-19 cases, quarantines, mask requirements in Pine Belt schools
