Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources tell me plans are being made for a possible shutdown of in-person learning for school age children, and it could come before the end of the year – possibly before the end of November.
What I’m hearing is that both Lehigh and Northampton County School Districts will close schools and return to virtual learning, if positive Covid-19 cases continue to rise into November, as they did in October.
Teachers in some districts are being told to prepare lesson plans for a return to all-virtual learning, “Just in case.” A similar “just in case” order came from administrators only a week before schools shut down in March of this year.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise, if it happens. Scientists and medical experts have been warning of a bigger second wave of the pandemic arriving after the summer. Other than when in school, children don’t wear masks, or practice social distancing.
Pennsylvania has seen a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, now setting a new daily total high, along with an increase in deaths again, after subsiding over the summer.
Schools have reported increases in positive cases during October, though the mainstream news media isn’t taking notice, or have decided not to report it to the public, possibly because it is nearing election day.
Bethlehem Area School District reported 13 positive cases in-person, with another 10 cases from students learning from home this month.
UPDATE #1: The day after this post was published, the BASD dashboard was updated on 10/31, adding 3 more cases. It now indicates 16 in-person positive cases for the month of October.
Easton Area School District had 5 cases in October, after reporting 0 cases in September.
Wilson Area School District, that had 2 cases the first week of October, added 5 more in the last week, for a total of 7 positive cases.
Other school districts aren’t as transparent with Covid-19 reporting, such as Nazareth, Bangor, and Saucon Valley to name a few. They don’t appear to be offering a Covid-19 reporting dashboard, specific to their districts. Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 hasn’t updated their Covid-19 dashboard since October 3rd.
UPDATE #2: SauconSource.com reports 3 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed at Saucon Valley High School since October 27th. The H.S. will be closed until November 5th.
UPDATE #3: On 11/2, Saucon Valley School District announced the closure of the high school until 11/16 due to a new total of 5 positive Covid-19 cases.
What happened in Bangor?
The story I’m getting from bus drivers that work for Bangor Transportation is one of their own reported their spouse tested positive with Covid-19. When the driver reported their spouse having Covid-19, the driver went for testing and also came back positive, as did the driver’s child.
The driver was told to continue working because they were asymptomatic and the transportation department was short of drivers, potentially exposing children and co-workers to Covid-19.
Apparently someone in management was allowed to resign, or face being fired, when parents became aware of the situation.
Disclaimer: On January 4, 2016, the owner of WestEastonPA.com began serving on the West Easton Council following an election. Postings and all content found on this website are the opinions of Matthew A. Dees and may not necessarily represent the opinion of the governing body for The Borough of West Easton.
