School district continues protocol talks
How the School District of Lee County will use numbers to determine whether COVID mitigation efforts should ramp up or down will be discussed this week.
Recommendations for what officials are calling the COVID mitigation matrix were tentatively to be presented at the beginning of this week.
The matrix presented to the board during the Nov. 2 briefing meeting included tiered mitigation strategies related to face coverings. Chief Engagement Officer Lauren Stillwell said this is the beginning of what the matrix looks like.
“You will not only see face coverings, but also other mitigations ranked,” she said.
Stillwell said part of the discussion before the recommendation will be made falls within how many days the district needs to sit in a certain community transmission level before mitigation efforts change.
With masks being a hot topic, Savage addressed how that falls within the matrix.
The recommendation includes four community transmission levels, high, substantial, moderate and low.
It is less than 10 percent of new cases per 100,000 person in the past seven days for low transmission, between 10 percent to 49.99 percent for moderate, 50 percent to 99.99 percent for substantial and more than 100 percent for high. In addition it includes the percentage of positive NAATs tests during the past seven days, which is less than 5 percent for low, 5 percent to 7.99 percent for moderate, 8 percent to 9.99 percent for substantial and more than 10 percent for high.
According to the presentation, there were 546 total cases in the last seven days. There is a case rate of 70.86 percent in the last seven days and a positivity rate less than 5 percent.
The transmission levels are calculated using Lee County’s positivity rate, as well as the total number of new cases per 100,000 persons within the last seven days. According to the district “if the two indicators suggest different levels, the actions corresponding to the higher threshold prevail.”
Superintendent Dr. Ken Savage said the CDC requires a masking policy only when within 3 feet.
“That mask is required,” he said. “Of course there are opt outs. When you are in close quarters, or proximity, it is a requirement still. Masks make a difference.”
When the county is within the substantial level, Savage said teachers and students do not have to wear a mask beyond 3 feet.
“They can choose to wear it. They are greater than 3 feet, they don’t have to wear it and it becomes optional at that point. Moving down to moderate level then they are recommended at all times. Only at the lowest level, optional all together,” he said. “Only in high level of transmission required indoors at all times.”
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