Masking up for our schools and community
When this feature was written, 101 of Kentucky’s 120 counties were categorized as “Critical”, according to the Kentucky Department of Public Health’s current incidence rate map. Meaning, these counties had more than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people. LaRue County is one of those with a current incidence rate of 64.5. Because our incidence rate is so high, the school district has been forced to delay in-person instruction until we fall to 25 or below on the incidence rate map. While we desperately want our children to attend classes within their schools, as long as the virus community spread remains critical, it is not in the best interest of our students and staff to do so.
Our schools, facilities, and buses continue to follow all healthy at school and work guidance from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Kentucky Department of Public Health (KDPH), and the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE). As a result, our effort to preserve the health of our students and staff has been exemplary. This is evidenced by the fact we currently only have five active student cases and five active staff cases in the district. Conversely, according to the Lincoln Trail District Health Department (LTDHD), our community has 92 active cases. If we look at the data from the time the pandemic began, there have only been 58 confirmed school-aged children cases. In contrast, the community, as a whole, has experienced a total of 467 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The guidance our schools follow, which seems to have the most significant impact on preventing the spread of the virus, includes wearing a face covering, practicing social distancing, regular hand-washing, and avoiding large group gatherings. Data suggests these mitigation factors are working and allowing our students and staff to remain healthy while at school. Unfortunately, this virus is not relegated to just the schools, but is a community problem (evidenced by the high incidence rate). If we are to get our students back to in-person instruction anytime soon, it is imperative more members of our community consider implementing the same kinds of practices our schools use to reduce the risk of spread. Specifically, by wearing a mask.
In communities across the nation, wearing masks and face coverings in public has been a contentious issue since the pandemic began. Whether the argument stems from a personal rights standpoint or a political stance for why those refuse to wear a mask, scientific study supports the correct use of a mask as an effective means for reducing the coronavirus’ spread. The CDC released a scientific brief on November 10, 2020, based on recent research, describing individual and community benefits from consistently and correctly wearing masks. The study demonstrates that face coverings reduce the chances of transmitting and catching the coronavirus, suggesting that wearing a mask also protects the wearer, and not just those around them, from contracting the virus. The CDC also recommends all people two years of age or older wear a mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household.
For those that wear a face covering in public while also practicing the other healthy guidance, we appreciate your support – Thank You! For those still reluctant to wear a face covering, regardless of your reasoning, we understand. Our students and staff (including me) experienced similar concerns to begin the school year. We had to get beyond the inconvenience and discomfort of something new for the greater good, so we know how you feel. However, now is the time where we all must put our differences aside, come together, and do what is best for our community’s children. Returning to in-person instruction is what’s best, but we can only do so if we reduce the number of COVID-19 cases within the community. Our district will continue to follow the guidance and use the metrics provided by the KDPH and make decisions regarding instruction based on the incidence rate map. As long as we remain in the critical category, or red, we will resume with nontraditional instructional (NTI) days. Please help us get back in school and stay there by consistently and correctly wearing a mask when out in public.
Where can I find additional information?
All guidance and expectations regarding our school’s reopening plan can be found in Restart 2020: LaRue County Schools Return to School Plan. This and other useful pandemic information and resources can be found by clicking on the COVID-19 tab on our district website at https://www.larue.kyschools.us/