ROCK SPRINGS — Sweetwater County School District No. 1 (SCSD No. 1) is reporting 29 students and 13 employees at various schools have tested positive for the COVID-19 Coronavirus.

In a letter sent on ParentSquare tonight, SCSD No.1 Superintendent Kelly McGovern and Human Resources Director Nicole Bolton the district saw an increase in COVID-19 cases throughout the week.

The following positive cases were confirmed in the District this week:

• 24 students and 4 staff members at Rock Springs High School
• 1 staff member at Walnut Elementary
• 1 student and 1 staff member at Pilot Butte Elementary
• 1 staff member at Eastside Elementary
• 2 students at Farson-Eden
• 5 District staff members
• 1 staff member at Rock Springs Junior High
• 1 student at Northpark Elementary
• 1 student at Sage Elementary

“So far, the positive individuals have been traced to parties, gatherings, positive family members, or other events outside of the school environment,” the release states.

“Currently, we have 84 total staff members throughout the District out for various COVID related reasons just from this week. This includes staff getting quarantined, having to stay home due to daycares shutting down, or getting ill. The community spread and positivity rate within the community is impacting Sweetwater School District No. 1,” according to the release.

District nurses continue to work closely with Public Health and are the designee in sending out quarantine papers and information to District staff and students who are considered close contacts. A close contact can occur due to a student not wearing a mask properly (both students and staff have to be wearing a mask properly), a situation where a shield had to be used, or no mask worn at all (such as students leaving for lunch at the High School level or while participating in a sporting event) when within 6 feet of another individual for a cumulative time of 15 minutes over a 24 hour period.

Notice the CDC changed the criteria to a cumulative of 15 minutes from a 15-minute period. The District monitors and corrects individuals not wearing masks properly as that can cause others to be quarantined.

“We ask that everyone please practice preventative measures such as good hand washing, practicing social distancing, when social distancing can not occur, wear a mask, and avoiding gatherings. It is up to everyone in our community to do their part in order to keep our schools open,” the letter states.