Schools: 175 COVID cases in a month

A total of 19 COVID-19 exposure letters have been posted on the Wise County school system website since Oct. 10.

Between Oct. 10 and Nov. 10, there have been 165 reported cases of the virus among students in the school district. This biggest spike was on Nov. 3, when 28 cases were reported in one exposure letter.

There have also been 20 cases reported among staff since Oct. 10.

On Oct. 29, the Food and Drug Administration approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 for emergency use. The pediatric dosage is one-third of that given to adults.

County schools have coordinated with the LENOWISCO Health District to make the vaccine available for those children whose parents wish to have them vaccinated.

Union Primary and Middle School students were offered vaccines at their schools Monday. According to schools Superintendent Greg Mullins, the turnout was a little better than expected. “We had about 60 students receive the vaccine at both schools combined,” said Mullins during a phone conversation.

Today, health department staff will be at J.W. Adams Combined School and Coeburn Primary School at 9 a.m., Coeburn Middle School at 10:30 a.m., Wise Primary at 10:45 p.m., and L.F. Addington Middle School and St. Paul Elementary at 1:30 p.m.

Mullins stated that COVID-19 vaccines and boosters will be available for faculty and staff as well.