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Sept. 2, 2020
HARTINGTON — With the recent Cedar County surge in COVID-19 cases, area schools are making some adjustments to keep staff and students safe.
The latest Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department report shows that the region has moved farther into the Orange, or High Risk area.
Three more COVID-19 cases had been reported in Cedar County as of 6 p.m. Aug. 31, Cedar County now has 49 confirmed cases of coronavirus. There are now 420 cases in the fourcounty Northeast Nebraska Public Health Dept. District.
Cedar Catholic Principal Chris Uttecht announced that masks will now be required to be worn by students at the school. Previously, Cedar had a “masks on the move,” policy where masks only had to be worn while students were moving from class to class.
Students and staff will now be required to wear masks at all times except for designated break periods.
Spectators at sporting events will also be required to follow new COVID-19 rules concerning masks and social distancing, he said.
Hartington-Newcastle School Supt. A.J. Johnson said HNS teachers, staff and students in grades 7-12 will now be required to wear masks at all times during the day with scheduled mask breaks for everyone.
Johnson said it is hoped this action will keep kids in school.
“Part of this decision is being made to lessen the chance that large numbers of students will need to be quarantined.” Johnson said.
This mandate is only being made of junior high and high school students because they intermingle with different grade levels for their classes.
“Since high school students often cross grade levels for many classes, the requirement is just for grades 7-12. Elementary classes are kept within their class groups all day and far fewer kids would need to be quarantined,” Johnson said.
