Lancaster County, SC, student Death of Covid: 16-year-old dies of complications from Covid-19 as school district battles infections



[ad_1]

“We are saddened to learn of the death of a 16-year-old Andrew Jackson High student from complications from Covid,” Lancaster County School District Superintendent Jonathan Phipps said in a statement.

Deputy Chief Coroner Jennifer Collins confirmed the student died on August 12. The name of the 16-year-old is withheld because the student was a minor, the coroner said.

This teacher is still struggling with symptoms of long Covid.  She goes back to class for her students

Phipps told CNN that the district already has 21 students infected with Covid-19 and 58 students are in quarantine, before the first day of school on Monday. Additionally, there are 20 staff members with confirmed Covid-19 and 40 are in quarantine. Phipps said a number of staff have called with symptoms of Covid-19, and he expects positive cases to increase.

Phipps said he expects the number of enrolled students to exceed 15,000 this year.

“We are starting school with classes taught by substitute teachers, administrators are overwhelmed with supervision, buses are making double runs, maintenance workers are working more (time) to cover these and we have canceled the game. pre-season football from last week at one of our senior schools because of eight positive cases with our players, ”said Phipps.

Phipps pointed to Gov. Henry McMaster’s “enormous political pressure” for schools to continue in-person learning. McMaster signed an executive order on May 11 that prohibited school districts from requiring masks for students.

“We’ll do our best to stay in person for as long as we have coverage,” said Phipps.

Phipps encouraged the wearing of masks during school for students.

“While we cannot force students to wear a mask, I would ask that you please consider your child to wear a mask, especially in areas where we cannot socially distance ourselves,” Phipps said during an update from August 13.

[ad_2]

Source link