More than 430 coronavirus cases reported in Wake County schools ahead of first day of classes
As students prepare to head back-to-school, coronavirus cases in children are ticking upward. Nearly a fifth of all coronavirus cases reported in North Carolina are among children under 18 as of Friday.
Posted — UpdatedSo far this month, there have been more than 430 confirmed coronavirus cases connected to Wake County Public Schools. The majority of those cases are among students in year-round schools, district data shows.
The key to keeping children safe from COVID-19 this semester is masking, according to Dr. Danny Benjamin, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Duke University's School of Medicine.
"Once schools put in place masking, most everything falls into place," he said.
Herbert Akins Road Elementary School confirmed the most cases so far this month -- 26.
Each week, WCPSS is adding on average 33 cases each day. The highest number of new cases, pending or confirmed, came on back-to-back days this week.
Benjamin said he's concerned about the students who are going to school in districts that don't require masks.
"I anticipate that these other school districts will go to universal masking in the next couple weeks," he said.
Schools should also "play by the rules" of quarantine, he said. If there is no mask mandate in place, a student who tested positive for COVID-19 could potentially send dozens of other students into quarantine, he said. But, if there is a mask mandate in place, then those who were around the positive student would only have to quarantine if they were experience COVID-19 symptoms.
Some counties are reporting higher numbers of children with COVID-19 cases. Hyde County has the highest percentage of children sick — 5 of the 11 cases reported last week were among children.
About 22% of all coronavirus cases reported in Durham and Orange counties were among children, state data shows.
Benjamin said he's concerned about lunchtime for students. He advises that students limit their amount of time unmasked, indoors, as much as possible.
"If you cannot eat outside, then eating inside spaced 6 feet apart is the next best option," he said.
He also recommended that schools implement a seating chart to help with contact tracing.
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