Daviess Public Schools will be moving to all-virtual instruction in the coming weeks and continuing through at least Jan. 5. DCPS high schools will go fully virtual beginning Monday, while P-8 schools will make the transition Nov. 23.
Daviess County moved back into the Red Zone of Kentucky’s COVID-19 incidence rate on Nov. 5, and it has remained there due to a sharp increase in the number of daily cases — prompting school officials to make the decision.
“There is no question that the COVID-19 spread has increased exponentially in our community in recent weeks,” a statement from DCPS Superintendent Matt Robbins reads. “Both student and staff populations have been affected by positive cases and quarantines — a reflection of the circumstances across Daviess County, Kentucky and the nation. Although the spread has not predominantly originated within our schools — a view shared by public health officials at the Green River District Health Department — the increasing level of incidents is creating challenges in the area of staffing, both in classroom and support roles, and students are missing in-person learning opportunities.”
As of Wednesday night, Daviess County’s incidence rate was 38.
Red Zone counties are those with a rolling seven-day average of 25 or more daily cases of COVID-19 per 100,000 residents. The incidence rate map is updated daily on kycovid19.ky.gov.
Daviess County was also in the red zone Oct. 8-9, when it reported incidence rates of 26.9 and 26.3 before dropping back down into the Orange Zone (10-25 average daily cases).
Over the last seven days, the following number of new cases and recoveries — as well as the incidence rate — were reported for Daviess County:
- Nov. 5: 53 cases, 27 recoveries, 31.7 rate
- Nov. 6: 27 cases, 7 recoveries, 31.7 rate
- Nov. 7: 44 cases, 31 recoveries, 33.9 rate
- Nov. 8-9: 62 cases, 20 cases, 36.6 rate
- Nov. 10: 56 cases, 38 recoveries, 38 rate
- Nov. 11: 64 cases, 29 recovers, 41.7 rate
School-specific guidance for a county in the Red Zone on any given Thursday recommends that all in-person instruction be suspended the following week and that only remote learning should occur. It is only a recommendation, not a mandate.
In addition to guidance for schools, Gov. Andy Beshear has issued reduction recommendations for the community for counties in the Red Zone. Those include:
- Employers should allow employees to work from home when possible
- Government offices that do not provide critical services need to operate virtually
- Reduce in-person shopping; order online or pickup curbside as much as possible
- Order take-out; avoid dining in restaurants or bars
- Prioritize businesses that follow and enforce the mask mandate and other guidelines
- Reschedule, postpone or cancel public events
- Do not host or attend gatherings of any size
- Avoid non-essential activities outside your home
- Reduce overall activity and contacts, and follow existing guidance, including the 10 Steps to Defeat COVID-19
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