The purpose of this message is to provide another important update on the spread of COVID-19 in the Mequon-Thiensville School District community. Yesterday, we shared an update on the recent rise in the burden of community spread in Mequon and Thiensville zip codes. Since providing this update, the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department updated its public dashboard with burden data over the last three days. As noted, burden is defined as the total number of positive COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past two weeks.
On Sunday, October 18, the burden in the 53092 zip code registered at 406, now considered very high risk based on the health department’s assessment of community spread. The burden in the 53097 zip code currently remains high risk, and below the 350 threshold.
What happens next?
We are currently working with local health officials to determine if there is additional context with the increase in burden that can be attributed to factors not influencing MTSD. In alignment with the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department’s COVID-19 Decision-Making Framework for Schools, the MTSD’s Responsible Return Operating Plan includes a decision framework for assessing the risk associated with the community spread of COVID-19 in our community. Per these guidelines, when the burden reaches very high risk, the District will need to consider movement between instructional scenarios. Please know, the MTSD will continue to align decisions with local health department recommendations as the pandemic remains active. Community spread of COVID-19, however, is not the only decision-making factor the District continues to monitor related to the virus in our schools. Internal factors such as the availability of students and staff at each of our schools will also influence shifts in instructional scenarios.
District and school officials will continue to keep all families and staff members informed as new information becomes available. We understand the significance of shifting instructional scenarios, and the impact it has on our students and families. The health and wellbeing of our entire school district community remains our top priority in assessing each of our decision-making factors.
Thank you for your partnership and attention to this important update.
