70 CLOSE CONTACTS IDENTIFIED, SENT HOME AFTER TWO POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES AT KRAUSE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  

Several dozen students and staff members at Krause Elementary School have gone into quarantine at home after a pair of students tested positive for COVID-19.

According to Brenham ISD COVID-19 Response Leader Jamie Woodall, the district learned Monday of three positive cases in students in the same household, two at the elementary school and one at Brenham High School, all of which were last on campus last Wednesday.  Another positive case was reported in an unrelated student at the high school, who was last on campus last Thursday.

Woodall said through case investigation, 65 students and five staff members were identified as close contacts to one or both of the elementary students.  Two other close contacts with students were found with the unrelated high school case, while the high school student related to the elementary students had no close contacts.

Woodall said the necessary online learning equipment has been provided to the students who have been sent home.  The teachers who went into quarantine are teaching from home.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 cannot return to school until ten days after symptoms have begun and 24 hours after fever and symptoms have resolved.  Anyone found to have close contact with someone who tested positive will be notified by phone, and will be required to remain off campus for 14 days.

Woodall said district administrators discussed situations like this at length during planning meetings early in the school year, knowing it is harder to enforce social distancing and mask wearing at elementary schools.  She said the district “expected this to happen at some point and had a plan for that in place.”  She believes staff and administrators at the elementary school handled the situation “flawlessly and in a positive manner," adding that students should benefit from that as they transition into remote learning over the next two weeks.

As of today (Tuesday), according to Brenham ISD’s COVID-19 dashboard, there are six active cases within the district and 16 cases total.

Click here to view the district's COVID-19 Response and Prevention Plan.