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Union Public Schools Sees COVID Cases Rise in 3rd Week of In-Person Classes

Ellen Ochoa Elementary located at 12000 E. 31st St.
Union Public Schools
Ellen Ochoa Elementary located at 12000 E. 31st St.

Union Public Schools is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases in its third week of offering in-person classes.

As of Thursday, the district had 10 staff members and 22 students who had tested positive. When school started August 24th, 10 students had reported positive COVID tests.

Union also has 62 employees and 401 students in quarantine, and 12 classrooms have been closed across the district. Five Ellen Ochoa Elementary classrooms were closed Wednesday, and 111 students and seven employees were told to quarantine.

Three classrooms at Jarman Elementary, and one at Darnaby, McAuliffe and Moore elementaries and at the high school are also closed.

"I would remind parents, teachers, staff and students of the need for continued vigilance," Superintendent Dr. Kirt Hartzler said in a statement. "We cannot afford to become complacent when it comes to physical distancing, wearing face coverings and handwashing. Parents, please do not send your child to school if they have a fever or other symptoms, or if anyone in your household has had a possible exposure to COVID-19 or is being tested. That’s the only way we can keep students and staff safe and continue with in-person learning."

In-person classes were optional. Families could have chosen virtual learning.

Union requires masks for students and staff, and a district COVID response team meets after very school day.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.
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