Post-Thanksgiving covid spike continues at Norwin schools

Norwin’s coronavirus cases increased over the weekend, with the school district reporting 14 more cases among students and staff, boosting the post-Thanksgiving total to about 79 cases.

Eleven of the 14 cases were among staff: six at Hillcrest Intermediate, three at the high school and one each at Sheridan Terrance and Sunset Valley elementaries. Among students, there was one case each at the middle school, Sheridan Terrace and Stewartsville .

Because of the spike in cases in Norwin, the district’s 5,300 students are receivingvirtual instruction this week. High school and middle school students have been receiving virtual instruction since early December, while the intermediate school and elementary school students were receiving instruction in a hybrid form - two days in school and three days of virtual learning, until Monday.

Superintendent Jeff Taylor said the district intends to resume hybrid instruction - two days in school and three days of virtual learning — on Jan. 11.

“As with everything in this pandemic, plans are subject to change based on local community transmission rates and input from the Pennsylvania Department of Health,” said Jonathan Szish, Norwin spokesman.

Taylor said that virus cases among staff, as well as those employees who must quarantine because of close contact with someone with coronavirus, have made it difficult to keep the schools open because of a shortage of personnel.

The health department is working with school nurses to complete contact tracing and the buildings will be sanitized, the district said.

The state said Norwin must uphold the 14-day quarantine standard for all staff and students who have been in close contact with anyone with a positive coronavirus test.