Unvaccinated, unmasked California teacher released COVID Delta variant to elementary school students

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Paul Bersebach / MediaNews Group / Orange County Register via Getty

An unvaccinated California teacher transmitted the delta variant of COVID-19 to a group of elementary school students, as well as others, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Earlier this year, the Marin County educator – whose name has not been identified – became symptomatic on May 19, experiencing side effects such as “cough, subjective fever and headache.”

First attributing the symptoms they were experiencing to allergies, the teacher continued to work. During this time, they read aloud to their students without wearing a mask or face covering, despite school requirements to do so indoors, the CDC said.

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The teacher then took a COVID test two days later, where they then got a positive test result.

On May 23, positive cases of COVID-19 were then reported among the teacher’s class of 24, as well as other staff, parents and siblings in close contact with those affected. Each of the infected students at the educational institution was too young to have been vaccinated, according to the CDC.

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Including the teacher, a total of 27 cases have been identified, the CDC said, with twelve of the teacher’s students testing positive for the virus alongside six students from a different grade and eight parents and brothers and sisters of the students. Of the 27 cases, 22 people reported symptoms, the most common being fever, cough, headache and sore throat.

According to the CDC, all school staff have been vaccinated against COVID except for the teacher in question and another staff educator.

“This COVID-19 outbreak which originates from an unvaccinated teacher underscores the importance of vaccinating school staff members who are in close contact indoors with children ineligible for vaccination when schools reopen.” , the CDC said in its report.

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“The attack rate of the epidemic highlights the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant and its potential for rapid spread, especially in unvaccinated populations such as schoolchildren too young for vaccination,” the organization added. sanitary.

The CDC also noted ways to help fight the ongoing pandemic in schools, including using “proper masking, routine testing, ventilation, and staying home during symptoms. “.

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© Paul Bersebach / MediaNews Group / Orange County Register via Getty
Teacher infected his students after they read aloud to them without wearing a mask or face covering, despite school demands to do so indoors