>>> THIS IS WRAL NEWS, YOUR NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS. >>> BUSINESSES AND INSTITUTIONS YOU RELY ON ARE FEELING THE PANDEMIC. PORPOISETIVE TEST MEANS MORE PEOPLE IN QUARANTINE LEAVING SCHOOLS SHORT STAFFED. RIGHT NOW, ON WRAL WORKERS TRACED THE RIPPLE EFFECT THE SHORTAGE HAVE IN THE COMMUNITIES. THANK FOR JOINING US. I AM DEBRA MORGAN. >> I AM GERALD OWENS. ONE OF THE COMMUNITIES FEELING THE STRESS IS HARNETT COUNTY. 57 PEOPLE AT ONE SCHOOL IS QUARANTINED AND SCHOOL LEADERS SAY IT'S POSSIBLE SOME CAMPUSES MAY HAVE TO CLOSE FOR IN PERSON LEARNING. BRYAN MIMS IS LIVE WHERE HE SPOKE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT THE STRAIN ON STAFFING. >> Reporter: ROUGHLY 65 TO 70% OF STUDENTS HERE IN HARNETT COUNTY ARE TAKING CLASSES IN PERSON. IN THE BUILDING, WITH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS IN CLASS MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. DR. AARON FLEMMING SAYS IF ABSEN ABSENCES KEEP SPIKING THEY MAY HAVE TO SWITCH GEARS COATES HAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER. THERE'S THREE POSITIVE COVID CASES. 351 PEOPLE IN HARNETT SCHOOLS ARE IN QUARANTINE WITH 26 POSITIVE CASES. I SPOKE ON THE PHONE WITH A TEACH ARE ASSISTANT AND BUS DRIVER AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WHO ASKED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. >> IT'S VERY STRESSFUL. WE HAVE STUDENTS FIVE DAYS A WEEK. >> Reporter: SHE SAYS QUARANTINES TRIGGERED PERSISTENT STAFF SHORTAGES. >> COMBINED CLASSES BECAUSE WE ARE SHORT ON STAFF, SHORT ON DRIVERS AND A SHORTAGE IN THE CAFETERIA. >> Reporter: SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS ARE UNAVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY, TOO, WHY IN QUARANTINE. DR. FLEMMING IS THE SUPERINTENDENT. >> I THINK THERE'S A POTENTIAL OF SHUTTING SCHOOLS DOWN IF WE HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS ABISN'T. >> Reporter: SO MEMBERS ABSEPT. >> Reporter: HE SAYS SO FAR SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN KEPT OPERATING. >> WE ARE NOT SURE WHERE THE THRESHOLD IS WHERE WE HAVE TO SHUT DOWN A SCHOOL. WE DON'T THINK WE ARE THERE, BUT WE ARE CONCERNED WITH THE NUMBER. >> Reporter: YET QUARANTINE NUMBERS HAVE SHIFTED WIDELY WEEK BY WEEK. LAST WEEK, NORTH HARNETT PRIMARY HAD 51 QUARANTINES AND NOW IT IS 13. AND COVID CASES HAVE KEPT STEADY STAYING BETWEEN 20 AND 30. >> WE ARE MAKING THE CHOICE IN MANY CASES TO MAKE SURE OUR QUARANTINES ARE STAYING HIGH SO WE CAN ENSURE A LOWER POSITIVE CASE RATE. >> COUNT RATE CAN'T BE CONTROLLED IN THIS ATMOSPHERE. THERE'S TOO MANY VARIABLES. >> Reporter: THE SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIRES STUDENTS AND STAFF TO QUARANTINE FOR THREE TO FIVE DAYS IF THEY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO TESTED POSITIVE OR SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19. IN SOME CASE THEY LAST FROM 10 TO 14 DAYS. BUT CERTAINLY, CAUSING A TRAIN ON STAFF IN HARNETT COUNTY.