COVID in schools

The three public school districts that span the length of Le Sueur County have seen some positive COVID-19 cases and the quarantining of students and staff since the school year started.

Questionnaires regarding the status of COVID in the school districts were sent to the superintendents of New Prague Area Schools, Tri- City United Schools, and Waterville- Elysian-Morristown Schools last week. Of the three, New Prague reported the highest rate of positive student COVID cases, which accounts for 1.2 percent of the student body.

WEM School Nurse Amber Karels reported four of the district’s 745 students (.5%) and two staff members had tested positive for COVID at the end of last week. Thirty- two students and one of the district’s 140 staff members were in quarantine.

Karels reported no significant quarantine situations in the district since the beginning of the school year. “We are hoping with continued guidance and communication with our community by being vaccinated, encouraging to wear masks during school hours and school activities, practicing social distancing, and staying home when presenting with COVID-19 related symptoms will help minimize the risk exposure to our students and community,” she stated.

During the same time frame, TCU Superintendent Lonnie Seifert reported 10 active student cases of COVID (about .5% of the student body) and six active staff cases. Twenty students were reportedly quarantined.

“The only quarantining has been of those...

To see more on this story pick up the October 7, 2021 print edition of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger or LifeEnterprise.