Merced County school districts extend closures, local coronavirus cases rise to 12
Two additional coronavirus cases were confirmed Wednesday by the Merced County Department of Public Health, raising the total number of residents with the disease in Merced County to 12.
Meanwhile, in other local coronavirus news, all 20 school districts in Merced County have extended closure of their in-person classes at schools for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. Distance learning classes, however, will continue for the rest of the school year.
The origin of the two new coronavirus cases are under investigation by Public Health. Eight have been contracted following travel and two were the result of community transmission.
The two infected individuals are both male, bringing the number of Merced County men with the disease to seven. They are both between age 18 to 49, according to Public Health.
One individual lives on Merced County’s west side and the other on the east side.
Public health is mapping those at risk of infection following contact with the two men.
School closures extended
Following the lead from Governor Gavin Newsom, all 20 school districts will be closed for the rest of the school year. That means whereas the schools were initially slated to reopen April 20, those closures for in-person classes will now extend though June.
In a release the district stated it based the decision on recommendations from Newsom and State Superintendent Tony Thurmond and in collaboration with the Merced County Office of Education and Merced County Office of Public Health.
“I’m not happy about it, but there’s no reason to prolong the inevitable,” Merced Union High School District Superintendent Alan Peterson said. “We have not lost hope. If things change, certainly the schools will reopen quickly.”
The school districts will continue to provide free meals at school locations.
“Though the buildings will remain closed, MCSD will continue to provide instructional resources for distance learning opportunities for every student we serve. More information will be shared about what this will look like for your student and family,” Merced City School District superintendent Al Rogers said on the district’s website.
The announcement comes a day after Thurmond sent a letter to school districts saying it’s unlikely students will return this school year due to coronavirus concerns.
“The last two weeks have been challenging for all of us as educators, our students, their families, administrators and our communities as a whole,” said California Teacher Association President E. Toby Boyd. in a release. “As we grapple with this new normal, we must work together with respect and compassion.”
The Merced Union High School District listed the criteria for the schools to reopen, which included if:
- The California Shelter In Place order is lifted.
- The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Merced County remain constant or decline for two weeks.
- The directive to social distance is removed and the limits placed on social gatherings is removed.
The district made sure to point out the school year isn’t over. Teachers and staff are working to make sure learning continues through distance learning.
According to Peterson, teachers will begin the distance learning after spring break on April 20.
“Teachers have done a great job adjusting to distance learning,” Peterson said. “Many of them are fully prepared. Those that aren’t will get up to speed.”
With a daughter who is a senior in high school and a son who is a senior in college, Peterson said he understands how tough this news is for the class of 2020.
“Having two seniors of my own, it’s a very sad day,” he said. “It’s starting to set in.”
According to a Merced County Office of Education news release, MCOE encourages parents and guardians to create dedicated space for learning and school work inside homes. It also encourages them to help children with educational activities sent home or online as well as use a schedule similar to school that includes time for learning, meals, breaks and recess and physical activity.
“While schools sites are closed, instruction will continue in a variety of ways,” said Nathan Quevedo, media and communications manager for the Merced County Office of Education.
According to Quevedo, the district is working to prepare distance learning materials and plans to make them available through both online and broadcast platforms.
Quevedo said the MCOE has adapted very quickly and hopes to make a universal platform that any teacher across the county can use.
The MCOE said it also recommends following the guidance of health officials and encourages people to stay at home except to obtain essential services. It also recommends students not socialize with friends in person and to refrain from congregating for games, sports or other outings.
According to the MCOE, information on the distance learning for students and parents can be found at its distance learning website . Additional resources and information is also available at the MCOE’s COVID-19 county resources web page.
It was reported Tuesday that Merced County received an “F” grade for preventative social distancing efforts — bad news for a county struggling with ample hospital beds, ICU beds and ventilators.
As of Wednesday, California has 8,325 active COVID-19 cases and 178 deaths.
Merced County has no reported COVID-19-related deaths or recoveries.
The county this week opened two mobile testing sites on its east and west sides, available only by appointment for symptomatic patients. Public health officials said the mobile sites will give a better picture of COVID-19 in Merced County.
This story was originally published April 1, 2020 at 6:55 PM with the headline "Merced County school districts extend closures, local coronavirus cases rise to 12."
