New COVID-19 cases among Oswego School District students trending downward

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 among Oswego School District 308 students is continuing to trend downward.

According to data provided by the district, a total of 23 students reported testing positive for the virus the week of Nov. 1-7, three fewer cases than the 26 new cases reported by the district the week of Oct. 25-Nov. 1 and six fewer cases than the 29 new cases reported by the district for the week of Oct. 18-24.

The district, the seventh largest in Illinois, has an enrollment of more than 17,000 students.

Of the 23 new cases reported over the past week, 13 were at the elementary school level, four at the junior high school level, and six at the high school level.

A total of four new cases were reported at Old Post Elementary School in Oswego, three at Hunt Club Elementary in Oswego, two at Boulder Hill Elementary in Boulder Hill, and one new case each was reported at Fox Chase and Southbury Elementary Schools in Oswego, Lakewood Creek Elementary School in Montgomery and Long Beach Elementary in Boulder Hill.

Of the four new cases reported at the junior high school level, three were at Thompson Junior High and one was at Traughber Junior High. Both schools are in Oswego.

A total of five new cases were reported at Oswego High School and one new case reported at Oswego East High School.

But while the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among students declined over the past week the number of students reported in exclusion due to exposure to the virus increased from 79 to 85. The district defines “exclusion” as students and staff who are a close contact to a known case of COVID-19, closer than three feet with masks in school or six feet apart without a mask or exposure not based in school for a total of 15 minutes or longer in a 24 hour period. Symptomatic individuals are not included in exclusion metrics, unless they test positive or are named as a close contact.

Six staff members report testing positive

In a related matter, the district reported six of its staff members reported testing positive for COVID-19 over the past week, one fewer than the seven new cases reported the week of Oct. 25-31.

A total of three staff members tested positive for COVID-19 at the high school level, including two at Oswego High School and one at Oswego East High School. Single cases of the virus were reported by one staff member at Old Post Elementary and at Traughber and Plank Junior High Schools in Oswego.

A total of 11 staff members were listed as in exclusion due to exposure to the virus over the past week.