10.16.20 | Weekly COVID-19 Update

This week’s HPS COVID-19 Dashboard shows a jump in positive test results among students along with increases in the number of students and staff in quarantine or isolation.  And while these numbers increase, they still represent a very small percent of our students and staff. We are also encouraged that no one related to the district has reported experiencing serious health problems due to COVID-19.

On Monday, Holland High School will be listed among known COVID-19 outbreaks at K-12 schools, public or private, colleges and universities in the state of Michigan.

The word outbreak can be alarming, but it is important you know what health officials mean when they say outbreak. A COVID-19 outbreak is defined by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services as:

...two or more cases among students or staff within a 14-day period who are epidemiologically linked, do not share a household, and were not identified as close contacts of each other in another setting during standard case investigation or contact tracing. 

Schools remain on the Outbreak List for 28 days after the last known linked positive test results.

We have been notified by the Ottawa County Department of Public Health that two individuals in the district who are not from the same household and have tested positive for COVID-19 may have had close contact in a school-related setting. 

Despite being included on this list, Holland High School, along with the other buildings in the district, will remain open for face-to-face learning. 

We will continue to:

• require everyone in our buildings to wear a mask
• maintain our learning cohorting guidelines 
• enforce social-distancing when possible 
• encourage frequent hand washing

We are encouraged by the willingness of our students and staff to follow the HPS Return to Learn plans and believe we are doing all we can to ensure the safety of our students and staff.

HOLLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS WEEKLY COIVD-19 UPDATE - Updated October 16, 2020

Number of students with confirmed positive test results: 7 new cases / 10 total cases since September 1
This is .2% of student body.

• 0/0 - Holland Heights
• 1/1 - HLA
• 0/0 - Jefferson
• 0/1 - West
• 1/2 - Holland Middle
• 5/6 - Holland High

Number of students currently in quarantine: 207
This is 6% of student body

Number of staff currently in isolation/quarantine: 17

When a student tests positive for COVID-19:

1. The Ottawa County Department of Public Health will confirm test results and contact HPS.
2. HPS will share contact-tracing information with health officials (student schedule & seating charts).
3. Working with OCDPH, HPS will begin communication with students/families who have been in close contact (close contact = 15 cumulative minutes within 6 feet of another person); OCDPH will suggest testing & quarantine.
4. HPS will update this information at the end of each week on the district website.