SALT LAKE CITY — The Granite School District has enacted district-wide distance learning days that begin Jan. 18 and end Jan. 21. Friday Jan. 14 is a previously scheduled teacher planning day, and Monday Jan. 17 is a state holiday.

The decision was made by the district’s board of education late Thursday night, said Granite School District Superintendent Dr. Rich Nye. Parents and district employees were informed soon after.

Students will return to their classrooms on Monday, Jan. 24.

Extra-curricular activities held at the high school level will proceed as normal. Nye said that junior high and elementary schools will reschedule those events.

“It is our sincere hope that this brief pause from in-person instruction will provide both our staff and students an opportunity to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and this highly contagious Omicron variant within our community,” said Nye in the announcement sent to parents and employees.

In the last two weeks, Nye said that the Granite School District had more than 2,200 requests for substitute teachers as well as a “surge in student absenteeism.” One in five tests in recent Test to Stay events throughout the district showed one in five students testing positive, Nye continued.

Learning supplies

Nye said that teachers and schools will reach out to students and families with instructions to access online learning tools. At the same time, learning resources will be available to pick up at Granite District schools. Distance learning resources are also available here.

Grab and Go breakfast, and lunches

The District announced that schools participating in the Grab and Go breakfast and lunch programs will make those meals available. Participating schools will inform parents about the times those meals will be available. 

“It is our sincere hope that this brief pause from in-person instruction will provide both our staff and students an opportunity to reduce the spread of COVID 19 and this highly contagious Omicron variant within our community,” Nye said.

Other reading:

• Salt Lake County Councilmembers vote to uphold indoor mask mandate
• Another COVID-19 case count record set in Utah: 12,990 in a single day
• Alpine school district, Utah’s largest, is going to remote learning because of COVID cases

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How To Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 Coronavirus (updated Jan. 2022)

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 spreads from person to person, similar to the common cold and the flu. So, to prevent it from spreading:

• Get vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, get your booster shot.
• Wear a mask. Here are the current CDC recommendations (as of Jan. 12, 2022):
  • People aged 2 years and older who are not vaccinated should wear a face covering when indoors.
  • When outdoors, masks are generally not needed unless you are in a crowded setting.
  • Even if they are vaccinated, people with weakened immune systems may still be at risk and should wear a mask indoors.
  • Masks should be worn indoors in public in high transmission areas.
  • Masks that cover your nose and mouth are required to be worn on planes, busses, trains, and other public transportation when traveling into, within, or out of the United States.
• Stay six feet away from others (social distancing) especially if you are at high risk.
• Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces.
• Testing. There are several types of tests for you to use if you suspect you are sick. These include viral and antibody tests, conducted by others or by you in your home (self-tests). 
  • If you test positive, you should isolate. The CDC now recommends a five-day isolation period, followed by five days of mask-wearing when around others.

Local resources

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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