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An unvaccinated elementary school teacher in California infected more than half of her students with COVID-19, ultimately leading to a community-wide epidemic in Marin County, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why is this important: The outbreak, which took place in May, highlights the issues surrounding a debate across the United States between school districts to consider implementing more stringent measures to curb the spread of the virus, such as universal masking in schools.
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Details: The teacher who caused the outbreak continued to attend school for two days while showing symptoms before finally being tested.
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The school in question requires teachers and students to wear masks indoors. But the teacher read to her students without a mask because she had nasal congestion and fatigue.
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The teacher tested positive for the virus on May 21, and 12 of her 22 students subsequently tested positive, according to the report.
The big picture: Thousands of students were forced into quarantine or self-isolation due to possible exposure almost immediately after schools reopened in August. Districts have had to temporarily close schools or suspend in-person teaching due to epidemics.
What they say : The epidemic “stresses the importance of vaccinating school staff who are in close contact indoors with children ineligible for vaccination when schools reopen, ”the report said.
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