Marin schools saw a rise in coronavirus cases among students and staff after the holiday break, including one additional incidence of school-based transmission, according to the county’s school data map updated Friday.
“It doesn’t immediately appear that the increase in cases is as big as it was after Thanksgiving,” said Mary Jane Burke, the Marin County superintendent of schools.
She said the school districts are following strict public health safety protocols in response to any potential exposures or infections.
“We know what to do, and we’re doing it,” she said.
The schools data map, at coronavirus.marinhhs.org/schools, says there have now been seven virus cases linked to school-based transmission, up from six at the end of last year.
In addition, 104 students and 34 staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus, up from 72 and 22, respectively, prior to Jan. 4, when schools returned from the holiday break
The data map does not indicate which schools are reporting the positive cases.
The Miller Creek School District in San Rafael confirmed two infected students, a first-grader and a sixth-grader, said Becky Rosales, the district superintendent. As a result, the district closed two class cohorts, sending students back to all-remote instruction for two weeks.
The district also sent notices out for several other potential virus exposures, but none of those resulted in cohorts having to be closed, she said
“All have been offsite transmissions thus far,” Rosales said. “Staff, students and families have been wonderful and understanding as the district complies with the implementation of the public health guidelines.”
The Novato Unified School District has had several infections since Jan. 4, but “none of these cases have been the result of school-based spread, but rather community spread,” said Kris Cosca, the district’s superintendent.
Even though the stay-at-home order has been extended for an indefinite period in the Bay Area, schools that have previously opened for at least some in-person learning have been allowed to return students to campuses. One hundred of about 150 schools in Marin County had opened for at least 10% in-person learning as of Friday.
