Schools report COVID cases

A total of 21 COVID-19 exposure letters have been posted on the Wise County school system website since Oct. 10.

Between Oct. 10 and Nov. 15, there have been 176 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 21 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 Nov. 8. 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.