Rise in COVID-19 cases closes Byron Elementary School until after Thanksgiving break

Byron Elementary School is closed until after Thanksgiving break due to a rise in COVID-19 cases at the school, the Peach County school system announced on Facebook.

Currently, there are seven staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 at Byron Elementary, which resulted in the decision to close the school, Shannon Dotsikas, the school system’s director of human resources, said in an email.

No positive cases were reported among students at the school, Dotsikas said Wednesday.

“We began to see an upturn in numbers at Byron Elementary and consulted with the DPH (Department of Public Health). We want to take into consideration the well-being of our students, staff and community,” Dotsikas said.

The closure went into effect Wednesday, about a week-and-a-half before the school system’s Thanksgiving break Nov. 23-27.

Before the closure, 10 staff members were quarantined at home and 24 students were quarantined at home, Dotsikas said.

All other Peach County schools remain open, according to the Facebook post.

Parents can expect additional information regarding instruction and meals via the school system’s REMIND APP.

Students are expected to return to school Tuesday, Dec. 1.

“As a reminder, please be safe and mindful of the implications of the ongoing pandemic as we continue to navigate through uncharted territory,” the post said. “We thank you for your patience and understanding.”

As of Wednesday, the Georgia Department of Health confirmed 839 cumulative COVID-19 cases and 26 deaths in Peach County.

This story was originally published November 11, 2020 at 7:51 AM.