Chicago Public Colleges CEO assessments constructive for COVID-19

Chicago Public Colleges CEO Pedro Martinez is isolating after testing constructive for COVID-19, the district introduced Thursday. 

Martinez, who’s absolutely vaccinated and boosted, is experiencing gentle signs. He started experiencing cold-like signs on Wednesday earlier than testing constructive on Thursday.

“It is a good alternative to remind our CPS workers and households to please get vaccinated and boosted,” Martinez mentioned in a press release. “Due to the vaccine, I anticipate that I will probably be advantageous.” 

The district mentioned in a press release that Martinez will work at home following the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention tips, which recommends individuals isolate for 5 days or till signs have subsided.

At present, the district requires individuals who check constructive to quarantine for 5 days. Unvaccinated college students and workers who’re a detailed contact to somebody who has examined constructive for COVID  are required to isolate for 5 days.

The information comes as Chicago is experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 circumstances. Town is at present averaging 971 new circumstances with a 5.2% positivity price, information exhibits.

Final week, town’s danger of COVID-19 transmission was raised from low to medium, prompting Chicago’s Division of Public Well being to encourage individuals to put on masks indoors together with college and public transportation.

“It’s not a trigger for alarm, since most circumstances proper now are gentle and fortunately our COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths stay at or close to all-time pandemic lows in Chicago,” Dr. Allison Arwady, town’s well being commissioner mentioned final week.

Officers mentioned the transfer from low to medium wouldn’t set off a citywide masks mandate, restrictions on public gatherings, or reinstatement of vaccination necessities.

Such measures could be thought-about if town moved from medium to excessive danger, Arwady mentioned. 

The district lifted its masks mandate in mid-March prompting criticism from some dad and mom and the academics union who alleged the district violated its security settlement with the union.

About 1,062 college students and 366 workers members examined constructive throughout a span of 4 days between Might 8 and Might 10, in accordance with college information.

Final week, the district recorded 1,403 college students and 480 workers constructive circumstances between Might 1 and Might 7 — a rise from the earlier week when 823 college students and 324 workers examined constructive between April 24 and April 30, in accordance with district figures. 

About 2,128 college students and 357 workers had been quarantined as of Thursday, in accordance with metropolis information.

The positivity price for school-based testing is shy of 1%, in accordance with the district.

Throughout all district-run colleges, the common college is 44.7% absolutely vaccinated, however charges fluctuate extensively. Though there was a gradual enhance in general vaccine charges since December, the nation’s third largest district continues to be struggling to make inroads at predominantly Black colleges on the South and West Sides, in accordance to a knowledge evaluation by Chalkbeat. 

At present, majority Black elementary and excessive colleges have a median vaccination price of 26.7%, in comparison with majority Latino elementary and excessive colleges, which common about 54%, information exhibits.

Mauricio Peña is a reporter for Chalkbeat Chicago, protecting Ok-12 colleges. Contact Mauricio at mpena@chalkbeat.org.