The Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Education have been in contact with Schuylkill County superintendents over the past couple of weeks.

Last week, Schuylkill County was one of five statewide to enter the substantial status of COVID-19 transmissions. This week, six more counties across the commonwealth met the same criteria.

“We hosted calls to inform them, serve as a resource and give them the opportunity to ask any questions for us to further assist in understanding the guidelines, policies, and best practices,” said Maggi Mumma, deputy press secretary of the Department of Health.

“The recommendation is for these schools to move to online or virtual learning, but the decision is one that is made at the local level.”

According to the DOH website, out of 67 counties, Schuylkill owned the eighth highest difference in confirmed cases over the most recent seven-day tracking period (Oct. 16-22) compared to the prior weekly sample.

The Tamaqua Area School District reported another COVID-19 case over the weekend, with Palmerton and Panther Valley also reporting a case.

Tamaqua Superintendent Ray Kinder addressed district families in a letter posted online Saturday, which stated the information was received last Friday.

“The school has communicated with members of the department of health collected data, analyzed factors of transmission and developed recommendations,” Kinder said in the letter. “After this consultation, it was determined that 10 additional individuals will need to quarantine.”

The district reported three cases last week before Saturday’s news, which marked the first time that others were suggested to isolate.

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its definition of being in “close contact” to someone with COVID-19. The CDC website states close contact is “someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days before test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.”

According to Kinder, the positive student attends the Tamaqua Elementary School, and is now recovering in isolation.

“This is a reminder to not let our guard down when it comes to the virus. This is especially important when not attending school. Although no preventive measure is guaranteed, adhering to mitigation efforts at all times greatly reduces the likelihood of transmission. We must practice good habits, so we can remain in our current instructional model and have the ability to participate in those activities that are important to our school community.”

According to the protocols posted on the district website, any “individual directly exposed (outside of school or at school in close proximity) to a person who tested positive” must remain home for 14 days.

The protocols state that if an individual tests positive, he or she must be isolated for “10 days after which no symptoms or until negative test results.”

“Our schools are motivated to maximize the instructional face-to-face time that we can do,” said Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Executive Director Dr. Greg Koons. “We do believe this is the best; within public education, this is what we pride ourselves on. But we also want our students to be safe.”

Panther Valley

A Panther Valley Intermediate School student tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

The school contacted parents and posted a message on its website Thursday announcing it had learned of the positive test that day.

The child last attended school on Oct. 16.

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. said in the message that after consulting with the Department of Health, it was determined that there was no need to close school. However some students who had contact with the child outside of school were quarantined.

Any spaces used by the student were cleaned and disinfected per the district’s health and safety plan.

The case is not related to the case in a Panther Valley Intermediate School staff member which occurred in early October.

McAndrew said the district is aware of the rising case count statewide, particularly in Schuylkill County. Like all districts, Panther Valley has plans in place for hybrid or full online instruction if needed. However McAndrew said they hope to continue with full in-person instruction.

“We know the best practice is to stay in school, and that is what we are hoping to give,” he said.

Palmerton

An S.S. Palmer Elementary student tested positive for COVID-19, Palmerton Area School District announced Monday.

The student, according to Superintendent Dr. Jodi Frankelli, was last in school on Oct. 20.

“The student is under the care of a doctor and is following the medical advice that has been provided,” Frankelli said. “The Pennsylvania Department of Health will continue to monitor this student as well. The DOH completed the contact tracing process today.”

Frankelli said the DOH is not recommending any closure of schools as a result of the positive test.

The announcement comes two days after the district reported the positive test of a junior high school cafeteria employee.

“Our cafeteria employees follow appropriate preparation, serving, cleaning, and safety protocols and guidelines at all times,” Frankelli said Saturday. “If students/staff ate food from the junior high cafeteria this week, please know that the food was safely prepared and served. Students/staff who walked through the serving line were not in close contact with this employee, so no quarantining and/or COVID-testing is required.”

This week’s junior high meal service will not be interrupted, she added.

Chris Reber and Jarrad Hedes contributed to this report.