LAKEPORT>> All six school districts in Lake County are implementing safety measures that align with the COVID-19 guidelines of the California Department of Public Health but the protocols for each district may not align with each other, according to the county’s Superintendent of Schools, Brock Falkenberg, in his report to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday.
Falkenberg said, “The governing board of each district sets their own protocols so long as they meet local and state guidelines.”
Five of the six school districts have reopened for on-campus, in-person classes for the 2021-2022 schoolyear, with Kelseyville Unified scheduled to reopen on Sept. 7. More than 95% of the students have chosen to return to classroom learning, and those who choose not to return to a classroom setting have options such as distance learning or independent study, Falkenberg said.
School measures include requiring vaccinations for all teachers and staff members, and indoor mask-wearing for everyone at a school site. Outdoor mask-wearing is recommended in four school districts and required in two. Staying six feet apart is no longer required across the board and some districts have Plexiglas barriers for those who want to use them. “We can modify as the situations change,” added Falkenberg.
Additionally, unlike last year when a school shut down with one positive COVID case, this year, a student who tests positive will be required to stay home for 10 to 14 days and enroll in synchronous online study.
In a video report posted Sunday on YouTube, Dr. Gary Pace, the county’s temporary Public Health Officer, indicated that local health officials are focusing on “keeping schools open and hospitals from being overwhelmed.” Pace and epidemiologist Sarah Marikos recorded their joint video in lieu of attending Tuesday’s BOS meeting.
“Schools are vulnerable and if they have outbreaks, they may close down,” Pace said. “It’s a hardship for schools to close.”
Pace noted that only 20% of school-age children in the county have been vaccinated compared with 60% in Napa County. Falkenberg said student vaccinations at some schools along the coast are at 80%. He pointed out that some 70% to 80% of district teachers and staff are vaccinated.
“Vaccinations and masks will keep schools open and protect hospitals,” insisted Pace, who believes “we’re looking at a significant spread in the fall and winter.” Current data shows more than 30,600 in the county have been fully vaccinated and about 24,600 eligible are not vaccinated.
In the video report, Marikos presented updated data. She said the county’s COVID-19 cases are at 41/100,000 cases, down from 68/100,000 cases at the end of July, and positivity testing rate has decreased from 18% to 12%. With five more deaths last week, the county now has a total of 74 deaths. Data also shows as of last Friday, 17 were hospitalized for COVID-related ailments, five were ICU patients.
Marikos noted that back in February, county data showed one vaccinated person tested positive for COVID. The summer saw a surge, bringing the number of cases to 94 among the vaccinated and 724 among the unvaccinated. In short, “The vaccinated are seven times less likely to be a COVID case,” Marikos said.
To aid in its push for more vaccinations, the county is using a state van to travel around the lake to provide vaccine access in different communities. The van’s first stop is at the Lake County Fair, scheduled at the Lakeport Fairgrounds from Thursday through Sunday. Those who get vaccinated will receive free admission to the fair.
Pace reported that the vaccination drive held in Kelseyville last Thursday was successful with 38 people getting their COVID vaccinations.
