COVID cases spiking in area

Perkins County Schools and Chase County Schools in Imperial both find themselves dealing with positive cases of COVID among the student body. 

PCS Principal Ben Jones said they implemented new protocols last Wednesday. 

The primary protocol calls for students to wear masks if they are within six feet of someone for more than 15 minutes.

New guidelines set forth by Nebraska’s public health departments recently went into effect. 

 In the case where two students are both masked up and one of the students tests positive for the virus, only the positive student must then quarantine. 

The other student must continue to wear a mask and self-monitor for symptoms but can remain in school.

Jones said this new protocol has made contract tracing much less time consuming. 

He indicated there are a few positive cases in the junior/senior high building which have also resulted in students having to quarantine for 14 days due to exposure. 

In those cases, instruction is being delivered to students in a variety of methods, including live zoom sessions, recorded zoom sessions and videos and book assignments. 

Jones complimented the teachers for their efforts to reach the kids at home. They are truly professionals, he said.

Athletic contests affected

Some athletic contests were cancelled or altered due to positive cases in school. 

The volleyball games with Chase County last Thursday were cancelled due to mutual agreement by both schools. Both schools have positive cases in their high school student population. 

Tuesday night the Lady Plainsmen were scheduled to play Dundy County Stratton and Hershey in a triangular. 

Since PCS’s protocol do not require masks, Hershey chose not to participate. 

Last week’s football game between Chase County and Hershey was also cancelled due to COVID concerns. 

Activities Director Jeremy Struckman said Hershey does plan to participate in the SPVA volleyball being played here at Perkins County Saturday. 

Struckman said the SPVA protocol requires masks to be worn during the entirety of the tournament by fans, refs, and when players are not warming up or playing.

Gym capacity will be limited to 75% and other protocols have been put in place for teams such as sanitizing team benches after each contest. 

 

To view the entire story, purchase a Grant Tribune-Sentinel or go to our e-subscription page to purchase a single e-copy or subscribe to the print and/or e-edition.

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

308-352-4311 (Phone)

PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140