212 student COVID cases reported as Fayette schools reopen; 532 quarantined

A total of at least 212 new Fayette student COVID cases were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, the first days schools reopened after the holiday break.

On Tuesday alone, 105 new student cases were reported in the Fayette County Public Schools district. That compared with 17 new student COVID cases two months before on November 4, 2021, according to a district COVID-19 dashboard.

31 new staff cases were reported Tuesday as opposed to none on Nov. 4.

For Wednesday alone, 107 new student cases and 19 new staff cases had been reported on the dashboard by 11 p.m.

Fayette County Schools officials would not say Tuesday what conditions would have to be in place before the district would return to virtual or non-traditional instruction. Lexington and the state of Kentucky are seeing the highest case counts of the pandemic as the omicron variant surges.

For now, NTI can only be used for districtwide closures for health and safety reasons.

For 2021-2022, under state law, the commissioner of education may grant up to the equivalent of ten student attendance days for school districts that have a non-traditional instruction plan. There can not be unlimited NTI days this school year.

As the General Assembly opened Tuesday, State Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, introduced Senate Bill 25, which would provide up to 10 days of remote instruction per school for school districts to use at the school, classroom, grade, or group level for the 2021-2022 school year instead of just districtwide. A similar bill that passed last year has expired.

Meanwhile, Fayette County Schools officials are continuing to use precautionary measures to help minimize the potential spread of COVID-19.

The FCPS COVID-19 Core Team met Monday with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department to review the current status of the virus in the community.

“Although we might wish otherwise, we will be living with COVID-19 for the foreseeable future,” said Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins.

Liggins said he is prioritizing in-person learning but is committed to keeping students, staff and families safe.

Here are the steps the district is taking on COVID currently:

Masks: Masks covering the nose and mouth of the wearer will be required in all Fayette district facilities and school buses.

Quarantines:

Fayette County Public Schools will continue to follow a 10-day quarantine period for those exposed to a positive COVID-19 case. By Wednesday evening, at least 532 students were reported in quarantine.

The following people are required to quarantine after an exposure:

▪ Those who are unvaccinated.

▪ Those who are more than six months out from their second Pfizer or Moderna dose and not yet boosted.

▪ Those who are more than two months out from the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and not yet boosted.

Testing:

To help reduce the risk of spread, employees, students, and families are encouraged to regularly get tested for COVID-19, even if they are not exhibiting symptoms.

The district is working with several contractors to significantly expand the availability of testing and school districts expect to have an announcement within the next week.

As an alternative to the 10-day quarantine outlined above, for school related exposures only, the school district will continue to offer the Test to Stay in School option for students who are not experiencing symptoms.

The program will be available at all elementary, middle, and high school campuses this semester and will be expanded to include employees for school related exposures only.

Vaccines:

Medical experts advise that vaccines are the best defense against serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for all people five years of age and older, and on Monday, the FDA approved boosters for individuals 12 years of age and older. Fayette County Public Schools offer vaccines.

Health officials have changed the definition of being fully vaccinated to include a booster shot. According to the new guidance, an individual is considered fully vaccinated:

▪ For six months, beginning 14 days after receiving their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine.

▪ For two months, beginning 14 days after receiving one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

▪ Immediately after receiving a booster shot.

This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 7:40 AM.