Coronavirus: Eagle charter school moves elementary online-only after outbreak
Elementary school students at North Star Charter School in Eagle will move to online learning for at least the next two weeks after an outbreak of the coronavirus was detected among staff members and students, according to an email sent to parents and staff on Monday.
The email, shared with the Statesman on Monday, outlined how North Star Charter School — a K-12 public charter school — went from finding its first positive test result last Wednesday to dozens of confirmed or probable cases among students and faculty.
As of Monday, the school has 12 confirmed or probable cases among staff members, along with 14 other staffers in quarantine after being in close contact with others, according to the email sent to parents and staff.
“This is over 40% of our elementary staff,” the email from the school said. “We are anticipating additional positive results over the next couple of days.”
The school also has a dozen confirmed or probable cases among students, as well as 73 students in quarantine after being in close contact with others.
Because of the high number of confirmed or probable cases reported over the past week, coupled with the high number of elementary school staff sick or in quarantine, the charter school’s board decided to move all elementary school to remote learning for 14 days effective immediately. The elementary school aims to be back in class Oct. 5 barring any new staffing issues, according to the email.
“Parents, we understand the incredible burden this places on you and understand how this will greatly affect you over the next few weeks,” said the email said. “This is not an easy decision, but it was not based on any emotional or political agenda. This decision was based on the fact that the elementary school does not have sufficient staff to operate.”
As of Monday, North Star’s secondary school will continue with a hybrid learning schedule.
The charter school’s board of directors also modified staff procedures to “require a mask to be worn whenever possible,” according to the email from the school. The email also noted that the school was working with Central District Health to implement any changes to operating plans if needed.
When reached for comment, a CDH spokesperson declined to provide additional information on the reported outbreak at the school, claiming that information on individual schools is protected health information.
In a statement issued Tuesday afternoon, North Star Charter School said it had “several positive cases among staff” in the elementary school, which led to quarantine measures. The school said it does not have “sufficient coverage to operate the elementary school,” and it would have remote learning until at least Oct. 5.
“The health and safety of our students and staff is of paramount importance to us. We are committed to protecting our students and staff, while providing the highest quality of education to our students in-person and remote,” the school said in the statement.
Terry Reilly Health grant to combat suicide during COVID-19 outbreak
Terry Reilly Health Services will partner with the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline in the hopes of preventing deaths by suicide during the coronavirus outbreak. The partnership was made possible after Terry Reilly was awarded a federal grant totaling over $750,000, according to a news release from the health care organization.
With the help of the grant — which came from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will pay out $752,000 over 16 months — Terry Reilly will increase its capacity to “ prevent, intervene, and treat patients who have suicidal ideation and/or have attempted suicide and are being affected by COVID-19,” according to a news release from the health care group.
The Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline will train the Terry Reilly staff and partner with the organization to provide support for those in its care.
“This grant enables our health system to increase capacity to address suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” said Heidi Hart, CEO of Terry Reilly, in a news release.
Idaho had the fifth-highest rate of suicide in the country in 2018, according to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. The state’s numbers this year are not as dire as they were then, despite the pandemic.
U of I study shows COVID-19 fear affects mental health
According to a recent study from the University of Idaho, quarantining for long periods of time can have a negative impact on a person’s mental health.
The study featured 300 participants nationwide, and researchers found that those under higher levels of quarantine also reported higher levels of depression.
“Fear surrounding COVID-19 largely predicted negative psychological health and was significantly correlated with PTSD symptoms, depression, anxiety and stress,” said U of I assistant professor of psychology Clarissa Richardson in a news release. “Yet, those with higher fear also were more likely to engage in precautionary behaviors than those with lower fear.”
Over 400 COVID cases, six deaths reported Monday around Idaho
Idaho health districts reported 423 new coronavirus cases Monday, a jump from previous single-day case counts on weekdays. Idaho’s confirmed cases now total 34,926 as of Monday.
The rise in cases is due in part to reported outbreak at a state prison in Idaho County, a county which reported 90 new cases Monday. The county had just 85 confirmed cases as of Sunday.
According to the Idaho Department of Correction, everyone who lives and works at the North Idaho Correctional Institution — a 414-bed men’s prison in Cottonwood — was tested for COVID-19 on Sept. 16. The testing revealed 88 inmates were positive for the virus, as well as three staff members.
One inmate and one staffer at the Idaho Correctional Institution-Orofino, a men’s prison that can hold up to 580 people, also tested positive for the coronavirus. On Monday, Clearwater County reported four new COVID-19 cases.
Ada County reported 56 new cases on Monday, growing its total confirmed cases to 11,394. Canyon County reported 23 new cases, bringing its total to 7,455.
Other counties reporting double-digit totals include Nez Perce (11 new), Latah (17), Twin Falls (43), Minidoka (11), Kootenai (30), Bonner (10), Bannock (13), Bingham (13), Bonneville (19), Jefferson (11) and Madison (24).
Of the six new deaths reported Monday, two Idaho counties reported deaths for the first time: Bear Lake and Custer counties. The deceased in Custer County is said to be a woman older than 90, according to Eastern Idaho Public Health. The Bear Lake County death was that of a man in his 80s, according to Southeast Idaho Public Health.
Kootenai County reported two deaths Monday, raising its total to 35. Single deaths were reported in Ada and Washington counties, bringing the death totals for each to 145 and five, respectively.
Idaho has now reported 447 coronavirus-related deaths around the state.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also reported 37 new “probable” cases Monday, bringing that total to 3,160. Of those with the virus, IDHW says 20,485 are presumed to be recovered.
As of Monday, 290,911 coronavirus tests have been administered in Idaho, with about 12% of those tests coming back positive, according to IDHW.
Coronavirus cases have been reported in all of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 11,394, Adams 27, Bannock 894, Bear Lake 44, Benewah 137, Bingham 816, Blaine 612, Boise 52, Bonner 279, Bonneville 2,029, Boundary 47, Butte 27, Camas 17, Canyon 7,455, Caribou 85, Cassia 581, Clark 26, Clearwater 32, Custer 50, Elmore 256, Franklin 86, Fremont 146, Gem 249, Gooding 223, Idaho 175, Jefferson 410, Jerome 638, Kootenai 2,479, Latah 314, Lemhi 58, Lewis 11, Lincoln 68, Madison 409, Minidoka 585, Nez Perce 372, Oneida 20, Owyhee 293, Payette 719, Power 212, Shoshone 211, Teton 128, Twin Falls 1,864, Valley 81, Washington 315.
Community spread has been found in all counties except Adams, Butte and Franklin counties.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 10:58 AM.
