51 Decorah School District students are now isolating or quarantining because of COVID-19

Decorah Community School District officials are beginning to watch an upturn in the number of cases of quarantines or isolations because of COVID-19.

Says School Superintendent Mark Lane, "The public may notice an increase in the number of students needing to quarantine compared to previous weeks.  However, the District is not seeing a similar increase in the number of staff and students testing positive for COVID-19."

Lane says the latest data reinforce the importance of not just consistent face mask use, but of minimizing social interactions outside of school.  "Through almost 50 days of school, the most frequently-observed reason for quarantining is a possible exposure to a COVID-19 positive person within a family unit."  In many of the cases, the COVID exposure has been a result of gatherings with extended family such as a wedding, birthday party, or other family gathering.  Concludes Lane, "I know family events are an important part of our lives; I simply encourage everyone to be thoughtful, careful, and safe."