DCS reports 16 new virus cases

This week’s report on new coronavirus cases among students in DeSoto County Schools indicates just 16 new cases found during the week ending Sept. 25. 

The school district has weekly issued new case and quarantine numbers by schools in the district. The weekly report also shows the number of school staff members who have tested positive for the virus during the same week. That number is not grouped by school, but together listed as a district figure, for privacy concerns.  

The primary location with the most number of new COVID-19 cases last week was at Olive Branch High School, where six new cases were reported. Olive Branch High also had the most number of new quarantines with 67 students, 16 of those coming from the boys’ basketball team. 

Hernando Middle School reported two new virus cases and single reports came from Center Hill High School, DeSoto Central High School, Oak Grove Central Elementary, Lake Cormorant High, Lewisburg High, Olive Branch Elementary, Southaven High, and Greenbrook Elementary School.  

Among the students placed in new quarantines, after Olive Branch High with 67, there were 35 new quarantines at Hernando Middle, 14 at Southaven High, 13 at DeSoto Central High, 12 at Lewisburg High, seven at Olive Branch Elementary, and two at Center Hill High, for a total districtwide of 150 new quarantines.  

DeSoto County Schools reported just two new cases of coronavirus among school staff members during the past week.  

DCS reminds readers that it is possible to have quarantines at a school without there being a confirmed student case report on campus. These situations occur when the student comes in contact with a school employee. The numbers also do not include students quarantined by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for situations that are not student-related. 

The complete report is found on the DeSoto County Schools website. 

MSDH on Monday reported 190 new COVID-19 cases for a total since the pandemic began of 97.049 in Mississippi. There were two new deaths reported on Saturday, Sept. 26 for a state total of people who have succumbed related to the virus to 2,921, according to MSDH. 

The number of cases in long-term care facilities in the state now numbers 6,002 with 1,198 deaths, the department said.

DeSoto County numbers 5,650 cases, 61 deaths, 68 long-term care cases, and 13 deaths, according to the state health department.  

The Mississippi State Department of Health makes its reports available on its official website.