COLUMBUS – Several students in Ohio’s largest school district are learning from home as their Christmas break comes to an end amid an explosion in COVID-19 cases.
The Columbus City Schools announced that 13 of its buildings would remain closed or transition to remote learning on Tuesday because of a “high number of staff absences,” according to a post on the district’s website. Schools impacted included Eastmoor Academy, Linden-McKinley STEM Academy, South High School and Whetstone High School.
School systems around the U.S. have extended their holiday break or switched back to online instruction while others are pressing ahead with in-person classes. Even those promising to bring students back as planned are signaling a need to stay flexible amid a seemingly growing sense that Americans will have to learn to co-exist with the virus.
School districts in cities such as Milwaukee, New York, Detroit and beyond found themselves in a difficult position at the start of the second half of the academic year because of the super-contagious omicron variant. Many parents want their children back in school, while some teachers fear infection.
Mask requirements are returning in some districts that had dropped them while others are planning to vastly ramp up virus testing among students and staff.
Educators hope it’s all for just a short while, though.
Ohio adds testing locations
The state is expanding COVID-19 testing locations in nine Ohio cities starting this week.
Additional testing locations, operated by the Department of Health and the Ohio Hospital Association with support from 300 Ohio National Guard personnel, are intended to ease the burden on hospital emergency rooms as the state is experiencing the highest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations during the pandemic.
The OHA Monday reported a record-setting 6,177 inpatient hospitalizations.
A drive-thru testing site operated by the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center opened Monday on the first floor of the CAS parking garage, 2540 Olentangy River Road, in Columbus.
Testing sites were operating in Cleveland and Akron and additional sites were scheduled to open this week in Zanesville, Chillicothe, Springfield, Mansfield, Canton, Toledo, Cincinnati and Dayton, Gov. Mike DeWine announced.
DeWine last week ordered the mobilization of an additional 1,250 National Guard members to support hospitals experiencing the most critical needs, bringing the total deployment of National Guard members working with healthcare systems to 2,300, the majority of which will remain in hospitals providing to provide direct clinical care and non-clinical support, DeWine’s office said.
The state continues to encourage Ohioans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many local health departments are expanding hours and availability to assist Ohioans in getting the shot.
Click here to schedule a vaccination appointment
More than 7 million Ohioans have received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That is 63% of all eligible Ohioans, and 70% of Ohio adults, while over 2.7 million have received a booster dose.
The Food and Drug Administration on Monday allowed extra Pfizer shots for children as young as 12 but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must decide whether to recommend boosters for the younger teens.
The state Monday reported 18,942 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of Ohioans infected by the disease since the pandemic began to 2,072,663. The number of infections crossed the 2 million mark in Ohio on New Year’s Eve.
Portman tests positive
Ohio Sen. Rob Portman announced Tuesday that he had tested positive for COVID-19:
“In preparation for returning to Washington, DC, I took an at-home COVID test last night and it was positive. I am asymptomatic and feel fine. I have been in contact with the Attending Physician and my personal doctor. I am following their medical advice and following CDC guidelines and isolating for the recommended five days. I will work remotely from home this week, but will not be able to be in Washington, DC for votes.” -statement from Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH)
Portman is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and has received a booster, deputy chief of staff Matthew Lloyd said.