As we move forward with the 2020-2021 school year, our ultimate goal is to return safely to a five-day school week with in-person instruction. Over the past few months, WGSD has continued our regular collaboration with superintendents, medical professionals, and healthcare professionals. We have identified, reviewed, and assessed a series of community health indicators to help determine when it would be appropriate for students to return to school. These indicators are a starting point, and one of the many factors we may consider as we move forward.
As always, the driving force behind any decision-making is the safety and well-being of students, staff and school communities.
Regional Transmission Rate
Viral transmission represents the average number of people that one person with COVID-19 is likely to infect in a population without any immunity or any interventions. The risk is less to individuals when community transmission rates are low.
Thresholds
Target of moving to 1.00 or less. Above 1.0 means increasing the spread, and under 1.0 means reducing the spread of the virus.
Test Positivity Rate
The percent positive is exactly what it sounds like: the percentage of all coronavirus tests performed that are positive.
Thresholds
- Red Level: more than 10 percent positive tests
- Yellow Level: less than 10 percent and more than five percent positive tests
- Green Level: less than 5 percent positive tests
Seven-Day Average of New Daily Case Rates
A seven-day moving average of new daily cases per 100,000 is used to account for fluctuations that may occur in the data, such as fewer cases being reported on weekends. The intent is to give a more representative view of the ongoing COVID-19 new case rate.
Thresholds
- Red Level: 25+ cases per 100,000
- Orange Level: 10-24 cases per 100,000
- Yellow Level: 1-9 cases per 100,000
- Green Level: Less than 1 case per 100,000
Fourteen-Day Comparison of Change in New Cases
This comparison reflects the long-term changes in new cases over a 14-day period in St. Louis County.
Thresholds
- Red: If cases are increasing (more than a 10 percent change) during the 14-day period.
- Yellow: If cases are flat (less than a 10 percent change in either direction) during the 14- day period.
- Green: If cases are decreasing (more than a -10 percent change) during the 14-day period.
Rate of Cases by Age Group
We are reviewing the rate of cases per 100,000 population by age group in St. Louis County. Currently, the lowest rate of cases is among people aged nine years and younger. Recently, it was reported that new cases increased by 13 percent among people aged 10–19 years, which is a concern for our young people.
What Can I Do to Help?
We must all do our part during this pandemic. Wear a face covering, maintain social distancing protocols, stay at home when you're not feeling well, and wash your hands frequently. By following these simple health guidelines, you will be helping your family and our WGSD school community. Find out more preventative measures from the
Centers for Disease Control.
We wanted to provide this information so that all may track and trend our progress as a community. We ask you to take the necessary steps to improve these numbers. It is up to us.
Our children belong in our schools and improving these community health indicators provides the greatest likelihood that we will be able to achieve that goal in the near future.
