Granite School District to publish COVID-19 case counts for all schools

Sep 4, 2020, 9:46 AM | Updated: 10:26 am

(Cyprus High School)

KSLNewsRadio

SALT LAKE CITY — The Granite School District will begin to publish the current positive COVID-19 case counts for each of its 86 schools.

In a statement Monday, the district said it will be providing the information in order to give parents the information they need to make decisions for their families.

“We believe this extra layer transparency is critical in helping our parents make appropriate decisions for their kids,” said Granite Board of Education president Karyn Winder.

Earlier this week, the Granite School District’s Board of Education met to discuss whether the information should be published.

At that meeting President Karyn Winder expressed her support of the move saying, “It can incite panic, I recognize that. But…how you really calm rumors is with accurate information. So, if people are thinking there are 10 cases at a school, and it’s zero or one, that’s a huge difference.”

Case numbers will be updated on a weekly basis after they are confirmed by the Salt Lake County Health Department. The district will provide the total number of students and staff who tested positive, but will not release specifics like class, grade level, or staff position in order to protect personal health information.

The district also clarified that any students or staff members directly exposed to a student or staff member who test positive will be contacted directly regarding health department quarantine guidance.

The information about Granite School’s COVID-19 response, as well as the district’s new dashboard, will appear on a COVID-19 information page.

As of Monday, there were 46 positive COVID-19 cases in the Granite School District. Nine of those cases are teachers.

How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus

COVID-19 coronaviruses transmitted from person to person. It is a virus that is similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds.
Don’t touch your face.
Keep children and those with compromised immune systems away from someone who is coughing or sneezing (in this instance, at least six feet)
If there is an outbreak near you, practice social distancing (stay at home, instead of going to the movies, sports events, or other activities.)
Get a flu shot.

Local resources

KSL Coronavirus Q&A

Utah’s Coronavirus Information

Utah State Board of Education

Utah Hospital Association

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Utah Coronavirus Information Line – 1-800-456-7707

National Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Commonly asked questions, World Health Organization

Cases in the United States

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