North Iowa Reporter

Mason City schools will continue with in-person learning despite rising COVID-19 numbers in the region, according to a news article by the Globe Gazette.

In Cerro Gordo County, the 14-day rolling average of positive rates for COVID-19 tests is 18.9% as of Nov. 6. Across the state, 75 out of 99 Iowa counties have a positivity percentage over 15%.

Mason City schools have been reporting a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases since Oct. 30, with the latest numbers for the week beginning Nov 2. showing 13 student cases, 10 staff cases and 118 students in quarantine.

“When you look at the number of positive individuals from that 14-day average on Oct. 13. We had 108 people. On that 14-day rolling average, Oct. 30 we had 371,” Director of Cerro Gordo County Public Health Brian Hanft said about the county’s cases. “We’re up three times from where we were.”

Despite these numbers, COVID-19 related callouts remain relatively low for Mason City. The district has 3,300 students and 25 student cases over the last two weeks which is less than 1% of the district.

“We’re sticking to our plan,” Dave Versteeg said at the board meeting. “The conversation will be whether we should or not (change the plan) when the community transmission rate is between 15 and 20%, and student absenteeism in a building related to COVID is between 10 and 15%. Those are the guidelines for the waiver in our state.”

The Mason City Community School District will be continuing the four-day in-person learning plan for the time being.