DCS updates COVID-19 weekly case report

DeSoto County School District (DCS) officials Tuesday released its weekly update on new case and quarantine numbers in the schools connected with COVID-19.

According to the information, which is weekly posted on the school district’s website, Hernando High School was the campus with the most number of new positive cases for coronavirus at four. Two new cases were found at DeSoto Central High School and Horn Lake Middle School. One additional positive case report each came from DeSoto Central Elementary, Hernando Middle, Oak Grove Central Elementary, Horn Lake High, Horn Lake Elementary, Lake Cormorant High, Lewisburg Middle, Lewisburg Primary, Southaven High, Southaven Middle, and Greenbrook Elementary schools, for a total of 19 new positive cases during the period Aug. 31-Sept. 4.  

The weekly update also includes the number of new student quarantines due to a close contact in a school setting during the same period of time. The report shows a total of 131 new quarantines among students, led by Southaven High School with 39. Hernando High School reported 25 new quarantines, Horn Lake Middle School with 12, and Lake Cormorant High School with 10. 

Nine school staff members had a new COVID-19 test result across Mississippi’s largest public school district during the period listed in the report.  

The weekly report points out that quarantine situations can happen without a confirmed student case. The situations may occur as a result of a close contact with a school employee.  

The numbers don’t include students quarantined by the state health department for situations that are not school-related. Private school reports are not part of the weekly DCS update.