The continued spread of the coronavirus across Minnesota has left just two small counties free to operate their schools without restrictions under state health and education guidelines.
A state health report published Thursday moved schools in 26 counties to a more restrictive suggested zone for in-person instruction, while conditions improved in 12 counties.
The state’s largest district, Anoka-Hennepin, is among those considering shutting down schools in response to the surge in cases.
The district told families Wednesday it may close its middle and high schools, which have been on a hybrid schedule since Sept. 28 after starting the year in distance learning. Elementary students would continue to take in-person classes two days a week.
“Given the uncertainty of county level COVID-19 cases, families of middle and high school students should be prepared for an upcoming transition,” the district said.
A separate health department report out Thursday shows Anoka-Hennepin’s Blaine High School was among the first metro-area schools to report an outbreak, along with Maple Grove Senior High and Park Center IB World School. All three have had at least five students or staff members in the building while contagious.
Still, the new cases largely have been concentrated in rural areas, especially the southwest part of the state. Ramsey County’s new case rate remains relatively low, at 21 per 10,000 residents, as St. Paul Public Schools prepares to reopen schools Monday for some 500 special-education students.
STARTING POINT
The weekly case report gives the number of new coronavirus cases over a recent 14-day period per 10,000 residents in each county. It is intended as a starting point for school leaders as they consider whether to hold classes in-person, remotely or use a mix of the two.
A high new case rate in the county doesn’t necessarily mean schools must close.
The state’s highest case rate, for example, is in Waseca County, where 456 out of 555 inmates at the federal women’s prison have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Waseca secondary students spent two weeks in distance learning before returning to hybrid late last month.
Waseca Superintendent Eric Hudspith told board members Oct. 1 that despite the high prison numbers, the school district had no active cases and that county health and state education officials supported their decision to bring students back to school part-time.
WEEKLY REPORT
According to the state’s weekly report, which covers test samples taken Sept. 20 – Oct. 3:
- Two counties in the northern corners of the state, Cook and Kittson, had fewer than 10 new cases per 10,000 residents, which means school leaders should consider teaching all students in-person every day while taking precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
- 21 counties had new case rates of 10-20 per 10,000 residents, which suggests elementary students can go to school full-time while middle and high school students can return part-time to allow for social distancing.
- 33 counties had 20-30 new cases per 10,000 residents, suggesting all students can go to school part-time.
- 22 counties had a new case rate over 30, allowing elementary students to attend part-time while secondary students learn from home.
- And nine had a new case rate over 50, suggesting all K-12 students should be in distance learning.
SCHOOL OUTBREAKS
The number of cases involving school-age children has increased steadily since early September, growing by about 8 percent each week.
Fifty-eight Minnesotans ages 5-19 have been hospitalized with COVID-19 over those six weeks, but none have died.
Thirteen public and private schools have reported recent outbreaks of five or more confirmed coronavirus cases involving students and staff in the building. Eleven more schools have had outbreaks in the last month.