Roanoke City Schools releases COVID-19 numbers, guidelines

ROANOKE, Va. – Roanoke City Schools officials have released an update on coronavirus cases in the district and guidelines going forward.

Here is a breakdown of the cases between Aug. 31 and Sept. 21:

• Students
  • 13 positive
  • 25 reported symptoms
  • 29 exposures
  • 67 total cases tracked
• Staff
  • 11 positive
  • 39 reported symptoms
  • 44 exposures
  • 72 cases tracked (some reported both symptoms and exposure)

The school district also detailed what would happen in a variety of scenarios:

• If a person tests positive with exposure to someone else within the district:
  • School principal or supervisor will tell staff members if person was in the building
  • Parents and guardians will get a letter and a robocall, or a phone call depending on the degree of exposure, if their student was in the building

Officials say what happens next depends on a variety of factors:

• Current infection rates
• Local health department, VDH and CDC recommendations
• VDOE guidance
• Staff availability
• Student and parent preference
• Transportation, nutrition and technology
• Physical space and operational abilities
• Social distancing or other health guidelines