COVID-19 case reported at Clearwater school site

The North Central District Health Department, in collaboration with Summerland Public School, has been notified that a positive COVID-19 case has occurred with a student at the Clearwater site.

Principal Mike Sanne confirmed Monday that a high school student has tested positive for the virus and has been asked to self-isolate until Aug. 30.

According to communication sent to patrons by the school, received by the Advocate-Messenger Monday morning, "Family and other close contacts are also being asked to self-quarantine (remain at home)."

"Parents, guardians or community members who have been identified as having been in close contact - within six feet for greater than 15 minutes - with the individual have been notified and asked to self-quarantine/isolate/self-monitor."

The quarantine will be in effect until Sept. 4.

Sanne said the school will be taking additional safety precautions.

"We are adding times to lunch, spreading and separating kids out even more over lunch. When they leave lunch, they will go to designated areas in the gym by class, with further social distancing," Sanne said via an email interview.

Due to protected health information, small population sizes of district communities and schools, NCDHD and the school will not release the identify of the individual or identifying factors.

"One grade now is currently required to wear masks while at school," Sanne said. "Other mask mandates may follow."

Changes in dismissal practices at the end of each class period will also be implemented.

By mid-afternoon Monday, NCDHD reported 17 new positive cases had been identified in the region. Eight new cases have been identified in Knox County.

Cherry, Holt, Pierce and Rock counties each reported one case. All are due to direct exposure with individuals who have positive cases of the virus.

Four additional cases in the NCDHD region are due to community spread, including one in Antelope County, one in Knox County and two in Holt County.

NCDHD urges individuals to wear a mask in public when social distancing is difficult, practice good hand washing techniques and utilize social distancing.

As of 3 p.m., Aug. 24, 194 total cases have been reported in the district, with 100 recoveries and four deaths recorded.

Individual county data includes:

Antelope: 25 tc, 18 r, 1d

Boyd: 10 tc, 5 r

Brown: 5 tc, 0 r

Cherry: 12 tc, 5 r, 1 d

Holt: 19 tc, 14 r

Keya Paha: 0 tc

Knox: 59 tc, 37 r

Pierce: 57 tc, 18 r, 2 d

Rock: 7 tc, 3 r