Ponca City Public Schools reported a total of 61 new COVID-19 cases, 480 close contacts and 541 total people affected for the week of August 31.
Monday, August 30, was the highest day on record with 28 new positive cases. Comparatively, PCPS experienced more in-school positive cases last week than they did at their highest week last year, which was January 18, 2021. The week of January 18 saw 35 in-school positive cases and 420 close contacts. As for other days throughout the week, Tuesday saw 6 new cases, Wednesday had 12, Thursday had 4 and Friday had 10.
On Monday, August 30, there were alot of weekend positive cases, and several elementary classes transitioned to Distance Learning. The PreK Center will remain on Distance Learning through Monday, September 13. The building will be thoroughly sanitized and ready to go on Tuesday, September 14. Staff affected by COVID will be returning throughout the week this week. Overall, PCPS reports that they’re seeing a minimal number of staff affected, and they will not transition a site to DL if they can provide effective supervision.
Posted below is the chart displaying the percentage of students affected at each school.
By Federal Order, masks are required on public transportation modes, including school buses and school vehicles if more than one person is in the vehicle. School vehicles include route buses, activity buses and any other vehicle owned by the school. If all people in the vehicles are masked up, close contact quarantine is not required.
If your child is symptomatic, do not send them to school and take them for a COVID-19 testing. If they have tested for COVID, do not send them to school until negative results are returned. PCPS will provide Distance Learning while symptomatic, awaiting test results, tests positive or if they’re a close contact.
Since all elementary students are too young to receive a vaccination, and to prevent the spread of COVID-19, PCPS will begin transitioning entire elementary classrooms, not just close contacts, to Distance Learning if more than one positive case presents in a classroom within a 3-day period.
The Ponca City Public School District will continue to maintain the PCPS Contact Tracing Totals spreadsheet on their website at pcps.us. Please stay up-to-date on trends by viewing the PCPS Contact Tracing Totals.
