Summit HS now reports 43 students with COVID-19; most have shown symptoms
No staff members affected; no signs virus was spread at the school last week
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The number of Summit High School students who have tested positive for COVID-19 has risen to 43, most linked to a Feb. 6 party in Bend, and a majority "are showing varying degrees of illness," Principal Michael McDonald told parents Monday evening.
No cases or illnesses have been reported among staff, he said, and there have been no signs the virus was spread at the school during last week's resumption of in-person learning. The outbreak has prompted the school to return to in-person classes through next week.
Here's the full letter sent to parents:
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February 15, 2021
Dear Summit Families:
In addition to the schedule shared in the recent email, I would like to update you on our current knowledge regarding the recent outbreak within our student community.
Since Wednesday, we have reports of 43 positive cases of COVID-19 among students. All appear to have a primary or secondary nexus to a weekend party in early February. Most students are showing varying degrees of illness, but others have identified as asymptomatic. We are very thankful to share at this time no reports of cases or illness among our staff and no signs the virus was spread at our school.
I appreciate the efforts of students and parents who sought COVID-19 testing and to those who will find themselves testing in the future. Testing and cooperating with contact tracing (from public health and our school nursing staff) play a major role in how well we control the spread of COVID-19 in our schools and community.
We urge families to review and follow these health recommendations:
- For individuals who attended the social gathering on Saturday, February 6, you are strongly encouraged to quarantine for 14 days from February 6. Quarantine Information.
- For individuals that may have had close contact with someone who attended the social gathering, it is strongly recommended that you quarantine for 14 days from the date of your last exposure with that individual.
- If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, you should contact your health care provider and self-isolate for 10 days from symptom onset.
- If you tested positive for COVID-19 and do not have any symptoms, you should self-isolate for 10 days starting on the day you tested positive.
- Please report any positive test results or symptom information to Summit High School nurse Pam Orton at 541-355-4023.
I care deeply about all of our students and my concern about their physical and mental well-being has only amplified during the last few days. This event has reminded us all that even with mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, young adults can easily spread the virus to their peers and the wider community, putting others at risk and disrupting a smooth transition back to school. If we all participate equally in following the recommended guidelines, we all benefit from our partnership and teamwork. Summit staff will continue to work hard within the school, and we need students and families to continue doing the same outside the building.
I am hopeful that our future communications will be filled with highlights from our classrooms and information about your students’ educations – and less about COVID-19. If you are interested in future updates on COVID-19 cases associated with schools that offer in-person instruction, including ours, I encourage you to bookmark this page. The page is updated weekly, on Wednesdays, by the Oregon Health Authority and includes all Oregon schools that have one or more case of COVID-19 in students or staff/volunteers with onset within the last 28 days.
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to seeing your students back in the building next week and celebrating our return.
Sincerely,
Michael McDonald, principal
Summit High School
