SDMA Weekly COVID Update - 10/14/2020

SDMA Weekly COVID Update - 10/14/2020
Posted on 10/14/2020

Hello SDMA Families and Staff.

The data listed on the Dunn County Dashboard was updated today, and you can see that there is now a cumulative total of 791 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Dunn County (up from 706 last week) and 9,174 negative test results (up from 8,636 last week). The 7-day moving average for Dunn County is now at 14.3 cases per day or 31.5 per day/100,000 people (down from 19.3 cases per day or 42.5 cases per day/100,000 people last week).

In looking at graphs of the cumulative and daily COVID-19 data broken down by age, it can be seen that the increase in Dunn County cases has slowed a bit this week and is still impacted by young adults, but there have also been some increases in the older demographics. Between this data and the overall state statistics, it is still really important to Wash Up, Back Up, and Mask Up as we continue to work through this pandemic together.

Some of the new cases this past week in the 10-19 age range have been students enrolled in the SDMA (3 new cases). There is now a cumulative total of 20 confirmed and 1 probable case of COVID reported in our students (up from 18 last week) since September 1 with the following breakdown:

  • Menomonie High School-   14 (up from 13)
  • Menomonie Middle School- 5  (up from 4)
  • Menomonie Elem. Schools- 1 (up from 0) and 1 probable case *a probable case is determined by the health department when a test might not confirm COVID-19, but other factors indicate the designation. More information about the definition of a probable case is posted on the CDC website.

Also, to follow up on yesterday's data report, please note that many of the student COVID cases in the SDMA have already been deemed "recovered", and a number of students have been released from the mandatory isolation period. With 2,827 students participating in the in-person instructional model, the SDMA currently has a total of 6 active student cases 0.21% (up from 5 active cases/0.18% last week) with the following breakdown:

  • Menomonie High School-    2 (down from 3) 
  • Menomonie Middle School- 2 (up from 1) 
  • Menomonie Elem. Schools- 2 (up from 1) *includes one probable case

There have been a total of 4 staff cases in the SDMA since the start of the school year (same as last week), and they all have been deemed "recovered", so there are currently 0 active staff cases in the SDMA.

As anticipated, the number of student exclusions in the SDMA has continued to drop over the past week. Today, 3.61% of the students in the SDMA were excluded from school due to close contacts, symptoms, or other COVID-19 concerns (down from 5.77% last week). 

The current breakdown of SDMA student exclusions includes:

  • Menomonie High School-     3.74% (down from 6.46% reported last week)
  • Menomonie Middle School-  3.92% (down from 6.64%)
  • Wakanda Elementary-          4.05% (up from 3.74%)
  • River Heights Elementary-    4.83% (down from 7.85%)
  • Oaklawn Elementary-           1.59% (down from 2.87%)
  • Knapp Elementary-               5.41% (up from 1.35%)
  • Downsville Elementary-         1.32% (down from 3.95%)
  • Menomonie 4K-                     2.41% (down from 6.63%)

All COVID-19 cases are concerning, but this data report with shrinking numbers in the SDMA is really good news for our school district. With SDMA families doing a great job following school guidelines for checking symptoms and following quarantine protocols for outside of school exposures, the newest cases have not led to any close contact exclusions or COVID-19 spread in our schools.

In other news, thank you to the elementary school families who participated in the district's in-person and virtual parent teacher conferences. Our teachers value family involvement with the school district, and we all appreciate people complying with the COVID-19 mitigation measures. Please remember that there will be no school on Thursday and Friday of this week. The 2020-2021 district calendar includes a professional development day on Thursday, October 15 and a day off on Friday, October 16. 

Additionally, the school district has been informed that the Free Meals for Kids program will continue throughout the remainder of the 2020-2021 school. All students in both the in-person and virtual school environment are eligible for this program.

Thank you.

Joe Zydowsky