LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Documented COVID-19 cases are now rapidly climbing in Lake County — as they have around the rest of the state — and with classrooms reopening after the holiday break, outbreaks have occurred among students and staff at local schools, Public Health reported.
“We at Public Health want to encourage flexibility and understanding at this very challenging moment. Our aim is to help the schools stay open, while keeping students and staff as safe as possible,” said Dr. Gary Pace, who continues to act as interim Public Health officer.
Pace said the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH, and the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration have recommendations that guide isolation of positive cases and quarantine of close contacts.
With Omicron spreading through communities, Pace said health officials are better understanding how the variant behaves, and how vaccination status affects transmission. “Guidance has been rapidly evolving, as a result.”
Pace said Lake County Health Services’ Public Health Division has no plans to order schools to shut down to prevent spread of the virus. “However, some sites may be very challenged by staffing shortages, and may have to adapt.”
He said local school staff and administrators are working extremely hard to educate children and try to keep them safe. “In this rapidly-changing environment, they are being handed an almost impossible task.”
Pace added, “We are hoping this surge will only last a month or so. Please take steps to keep your children safe, and the schools open.”
To keep schools open and children and communities safe, Pace urged community members to be vaccinated, be tested when symptomatic or after close contact.
More on vaccination and testing resources are available at the county’s website.