State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers says transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant is so high, schools are reporting over 4,400 students quarantined in the first few weeks since they opened.
“More than 300 positive teachers, more than 800 positive students and this was again just from 342 school systems that reported to us. So we anticipate that that is going to increase,” said Byers.
Byers says one person can infect 8 to 9 people. He says he meets with school administrators to discuss CDC and state health department recommendations. Byers explains he tells them
“The way to do the best to try to prevent and try to maintain in-person learning, it’s got to start with making recommendations for vaccinations. Everybody eligible really needs to get vaccinated,” said Byers.
Universal masking indoors, distancing, and not congregating in groups are among Byers recommendations as well. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs reports there are children hospitalized with coronavirus in Mississippi.
“Our most recent report had 14 children in the hospital and I just got an update, six in ICU and four on life support,” said Dobbs.
Dobbs says there are some children hospitalized out of state due to a lack of staffing, but those numbers are not tracked. Health officials say they’re providing schools with COVID-19 test kits to identify those who are infected.
