Savannah-Chatham schools reports more than 4,000 students in quarantine after first week

After the first full week of school for more than 36,000 students in Savannah-Chatham County public schools, just over 4,000 have been reported as in quarantine.

The district’s numbers posted on Tuesday afternoon for the week of Aug. 7-13, show a sharp increase from the first week of school, which included only three days of school, Aug. 4-6.

Last week:Savannah-Chatham County has 1,100 students in quarantine; 230 test COVID positive the first week

The school district’s report includes a clarification on the amount of students in quarantine. “The number of quarantined students includes any student who was not in class as a result of close contact designation or due to a disruption related to staff availability,” the report notes.

Quarantined students may include those who were exposed to COVID outside of school, subsequently tested positive or may be asymptomatic, and are self quarantining.

What to do if your child is exposed to COVID:10 tips for parents and caregivers of SCCPSS students

As of Aug. 13, the district reported 4,042 students (11.13%) and 215 (3.84%) staff are quarantined. This total includes all school sites, charter schools, and the administration building. The schools with the most quarantined students are West Chatham Middle (330), Rice Creek (208) and Gould Elementary (181).

However, the number of students testing positive for COVID the first full week of school remains low, when calculated as a percentage of the total student population, at 352 – just under 1% at .097%.

More:Savannah-Chatham school superintendent Ann Levett on COVID cases during first week

The full list of SCCPSS schools with totals of COVID positive students and staff; and quarantined students and staff can be seen with this story at SavannahNow.com/news/ or on the district website at sccpss.com. The list will be updated weekly with new counts for the week ending the previous Friday (not cumulative) on Tuesdays.

Bryan County and Effingham County schools

Bryan County Schools reported its COVID numbers as of Aug. 13:

More:Bryan County schools now mandating masks because of increase in COVID-19 cases

• Six elementary schools, total students: 5,159; COVID positive (students and staff): 178; Percent: 3.4%.

• Two middle schools, total students: 2,588; COVID positive (students and staff): 69; Percent: 2.6%

• Two high schools, total students: 3,355; COVID positive (students and staff): 67; Percentage: 1.9%

Effingham County Schools reported its COVID numbers as of Aug. 13. It does not break down numbers by school nor by COVID positive status or quarantine status.

• Total students: 13,390; COVID positive: 105; Percent: 0.78%

• Total staff: 1,790; COVID positive: 33; Percent: 1.84%.

Barbara Augsdorfer is the education and nonprofits reporter for the Savannah Morning News. Reach her at BAugsdorfer@gannett.com or on Twitter @Babs7983.