Covid cases in Fayette schools at lowest point since early August

Fayette County’s 2-week new infection rate at 1.5%, lowest since last July — 

With face coverings still mandatory in all 24 Fayette County schools, the system is reporting only 12 new Covid cases last week, out of a student population of around 20,000 and staff numbering more than 2,000.

That’s lower than the number of new cases when school started the first week of August.

Meanwhile, countywide, Fayette reported a 2-week new Covid infection rate of 1.5%, also the lowest rate of new positive tests since last July 26, when the 2-week rate was 1.3%, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Health.https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report

Only two schools in the system have more than 1 new case: Cleveland Elementary with one student and one staff member, and Oak Grove Elementary with 2 new student cases. Elementary schools report a total of 6 new cases, 2 middle schools with 1 case each, and 2 high schools with 1 case each. An addition single case was reported at the central office and in theFayette Life Acedemy, according to the system Covid report pposted Friday afternoon, Oct. 15.

Quarantine numbers also have fallen to low levels:  11 persons in modified, in-school quarantine and only 2 students in full, at-home quarantine, the report showed.

Masks for all students, teachers, staff members and visitors were mandated Aug. 24, with the mandate renewed in mid-September until the last week of October. The system pledged to reevaluate the need for the mask requirement before Halloween.