INDIANAPOLIS — Monday's latest updates on the coronavirus pandemic.
Avon staff member tests positive
Another staff member at Avon High School has tested positive for COVID-19.
Avon was one of the first schools to return last week. Parents got a voice message Monday evening notifying them of the positive test.
Last week, another staff member tested positive for the virus, but that person had not been in the school, nor had they been in close contact with any other staff or students.
School will resume Tuesday as normal, but every room the staff member may have impacted is getting a deep cleaning Monday night.
Everyone who was in close contact with the infected staff member was contacted directly about what they need to do.
New Pal High School student positive for COVID-19 attended first day
A New Palestine High School student tested positive for COVID-19 on the first day of school.
A statement from the school said a note from the family’s physician, at Hancock Health, providing notification of test results inadvertently included an incorrect return to school date. Hancock Health is reportedly reviewing its notification process. Hancock Health will reportedly be implementing rapid turn-around testing within the next week to help ensure more timely results.
A statement from the school district said the infected student wore a mask as required. Families of close contacts have been notified and their children removed from school for 14 days.
The district urges parents to not send students to school if they have symptoms of COVID-19, a confirmed case of COVID-19 in their home or are waiting on COVID-19 test results.
Classes will continue as scheduled at New Palestine High School.
582 additional cases, 5 more deaths in Indiana
The Indiana State Department of Health announced that 582 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 with 68,433 total Indiana residents now known to have the novel coronavirus.
A total of 2,780 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of five over the previous day. Another 200 probable deaths have been reported in people who died with COVID-19 symptoms that were never verified by a test.
As of today, more than 39 percent of ICU beds and nearly 85 percent of ventilators are available across the state.
To date, 775,482 tests for unique individuals have been reported to ISDH, up from 769,043 on Sunday.
Washington Twp. amends reopening plan
The Washington Township School Board voted in a special meeting this morning to amend three areas of its July 13 resolution to resume the fall semester with virtual classes only due to COVID-19 concerns.
The three amended areas are:
- limited in-person student services
- staff work environment
- athletics
The administration collaborated with staff and teachers who expressed concerns in some complex areas on the recommended amendments to the July 13 resolution.
Instruction or services can take place in-person for the school's PACES Program, Hilltop Preschool evaluations, ENL assessments, Kindergarten Readiness assessments, Cummins Mental Health services and some hands-on training at the J. Everett Light Career Center.
Staff should report to work in-person on normal schedules while following COVID-19 workplace safety procedures and protocols in place.
Athletics for grades 6-12 may commence in accordance with Marion County Health Department and IHSAA guidelines. Participation is optional, and spectators must wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines.
Other extra-curricular activities are further suspended along with staff and student trips.
The board will continue to review Marion County COVID-19 data at each School Board meeting and will vote on reopening schools for in-person learning when that data for Marion County shows a downward trend. The next scheduled board meeting is August 12.
The full amended resolution can be found here.
Elwood students move to e-learning this week after staff members tested positive
Elwood Junior-Senior High School students will be doing e-learning the week of Aug. 3 after staff members tested positive for COVID-19.
The school corporation confirmed the positive tests Saturday night and said all of the individuals were tested prior to the school year starting Thursday.
According to Superintendent Dr. Joe Brown, the staff members were not in close contact with any students other than their own children.
Brown said a few staff members at Elwood Junior-Senior High School were in close contact with a staff member that tested positive.
Latest US, world numbers
There have been 4.66 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of 3:30 a.m. ET Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. There have been more than 154,000 deaths and 1.46 million people recovered.
Worldwide, there have been 18.08 million confirmed cases with more than 689,000 deaths and 10.69 million recoveries.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.
Indy Parks' new schedule to include some weekend and evening hours
Indy Parks is releasing a new schedule for family centers and park facilities on Monday, Aug. 3, which will include some weekend and evening hours.
Park goers are encouraged to adhere to safety guidelines while enjoying these spaces.
Indy Parks' meals program, which has served 156,908 free meals since March 16, will also move to its fall schedule at parks and other locations around the city.
Spray grounds will remain open through Labor Day, but Indy Parks' outdoor pools closed for the season Sunday, Aug. 2. Indy Parks will soon announce plans for its three indoor pools, including the remodeled Indy Island pool.
Click here for more information.