13 more COVID cases involving Henrico schools prompt 40 to quarantine

Thirteen new cases of COVID-19 involving people in Henrico’s public schools have been reported in the past five days, prompting 40 people to enter quarantine. None of the cases involved transmission in school, according to the school system.

In total, 88 COVID cases involving people in the county’s schools since they began a staggered reopening Feb. 22 have resulted in 759 people entering quarantine. Most have returned from that period away from school.

The new cases reported since March 26 involved 11 different schools and the school system’s Federal Programs/Foundational Learning Office.

Only six required anyone to quarantine – two cases at Glen Allen High School (14 people in total), one at Freeman High School (8), one at Tucker High School (7), one at Hermitage High School (7) and one at Ashe Elementary (4).

The school system’s spring break is next week, and though school system officials are urging anyone who may travel to follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and self-quarantine for at least 7 days upon returning, they don’t appear to have any specific plans to strictly enforce those guidelines, in part because they won't know who has traveled.

The CDC guidelines urge people who travel to:

• get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel and stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel – even if they test negative;
• stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel if they don’t get tested upon returning;
• avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days upon returning, whether they get tested or not.

But Henrico Schools spokesman Andy Jenks told the Citizen that the school system is not going to create a specific definition of what constitutes “out-of-town” travel, though it does expect everyone to follow the CDC guidelines.

“It’s fair to say we’re going to expect our employees and families to know and follow the guidance, as well as our self-screening process [which requires families, students and staff members to complete a checklist each day to ensure no COVID-related symptoms are present]," Jenks said. "We’re appealing to everyone’s common sense and good judgment about keeping themselves, and everyone around them, safe and healthy. We all must remain vigilant, and continue to make good choices in order to have the in-person learning, sports seasons and activities that we all want to have."

Families should expect to receive guidance from the school system about spring break soon, Jenks said.