DeKalb County elementary school to temporarily close due to COVID-19 cases

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County elementary school will be closed due to a spike in COVID-19.

Oak View Elementary School had 18 students test positive for the coronavirus. The district said it impacted over 90 students and 13 staff members who have had to quarantine and isolate.

The grades impacted include pre-k, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 5th.

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No cases have been reported thus far in grades 3rd and 4th.

Students will receive virtual instruction and teachers will work virtually next week.

Metro Atlanta school districts are reporting 21,028 of cases of COVID-19 among students and staff just weeks into the school year.

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Channel 2 Action News Reporter Berndt Petersen spoke with Olivia Sims Thursday afternoon. Sims said she was extremely concerned.

“They’re gonna have to make provisions. This pandemic is terrible!,” Sims said.

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DeKalb Schools Superintendent Cheryl Watson-Harris said Thursday morning that over the previous five days, 18 Oak View students tested positive for COVID-19. She said another 90 kids had close contact with the infected classmates as did 13 staff members. They are all in quarantine.

“The district has decided to close the Oak View Elementary School building effective September 3rd, and reopen on September 10th,” Watson-Harris said. “During the school building closure, district staff will deep clean and disinfect the facility per guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”

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Watson-Harris said instruction will go virtual beginning next week. Concerned parents including Carmella Terry told Petersen that even though it may create a big problem for those who are working, it’s still the right call.

“Kids are getting sick. The young kids are the ones getting sick more than the adults now,” said Terry.

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