covid-19 update

By Zola Kambandu-Schilz

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues its spread throughout the state of Wisconsin it is now clear that the number of cases within the Green Bay Area Public School District has seen a dramatic spike in comparison to last school year. This change can be attributed to many factors, one of the biggest being the new addition of the delta variant, which is a more infectious and currently predominant strand of COVID.

At East High School alone there are 15 students and 3 staff members currently quarantined, as well as 2 staff members in isolation. When combining all of the Green Bay Schools it totals out to 787 students and 55 staff members out due to COVID-19. This number is constantly changing and updates on the cases in the district can be found on the GBAPS COVID-19 Public Dashboard, which can be accessed by anyone. 

“The main goal right now,” says GBAPS nurse Terri Zahorik, “Is to try and keep kids in school as long as possible and out of quarantine”. Measures are being taken in order to help prevent the spread. Social distancing is being enforced in classrooms–desks are places at least three feet apart–and testing is now being administered at school in order to get faster results. 

If a student or staff is sick, they are required to take a COVID-19 test and are quarantined until test results come back. During this time, family members can still attend school, only if the test results are positive are family members required to also quarantine. If the test comes back positive, that person is put into isolation until it is safe for them to return to school. 

With the CDC approving vaccinations in ages 5 and up, Zahorik is working to encourage everyone to get vaccinated. Through emailing district parents and keeping them informed and updated on vaccine statuses, she is working to ensure that everyone stays safe during this time. Vaccination numbers are trending mostly among high school students, with roughly about 250 students at Green Bay East already fully vaccinated.