K-12 coronavirus case numbers eclipse 5,000 plateau

As schools reopened after holiday week, they reported at least 243 new coronavirus cases. And that brings the number of cases in the K-12 system past the 5,000 mark.

Health and Welfare’s latest report, issued Monday, covers a seven-day period ending Sunday.

The week’s hotspots:

  • Coeur d’Alene High School: 13 cases.
  • Borah Elementary School, Coeur d’Alene: Nine cases.
  • Lake City High School, Coeur d’Alene: Nine cases.
  • Bishop Kelly High School, Boise: Eight cases.
  • Madison Senior High School, Rexburg: Six cases.

The weekly reports are a snapshot, and they’re incomplete.

Not every school reports its case numbers weekly; the 243 cases reflect reports received by Health and Welfare on Monday. Health and Welfare does not release any case numbers from schools with fewer than 50 students, citing privacy concerns. In some cases, Health and Welfare has only a minimum number of coronavirus cases for a school.

Through Sunday, Health and Welfare has linked at least 5,144 coronavirus cases to K-12 students and teachers.

Ten high schools — nine in the Coeur d’Alene, Bonneville and West Ada school districts — report the highest number of coronavirus cases for the academic year:

  • Lake City High School: 120 cases.
  • Mountain View High School, Meridian: 85 cases.
  • Coeur d’Alene High School: 80 cases.
  • Eagle High School: At least 79 cases.
  • Rocky Mountain High School, Meridian: 78 cases.
  • Thunder Ridge High School, Idaho Falls: at least 77 cases.
  • Meridian High School: 77 cases.
  • Bonneville High School, Idaho Falls: At least 68 cases.
  • Hillcrest High School, Ammon: At least 68 cases.
  • Jerome High School: 64 cases.

The weekly report comes as Idaho’s second-largest school district is resuming part-time classroom instruction. Boise School District students will begin returning to school Tuesday; they have been on an online-only schedule since Nov. 30.

As of Monday, the state and its health districts have reported 150,374 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases.

 

Kevin Richert

Kevin Richert

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [email protected]

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