Hundreds Of Local Students In Quarantine

ALGONQUIN AND LAKE IN THE HILLS, IL — Algonquin and Lake in the Hills schools have been back in session for a couple weeks now, and COVID-19 cases are starting to creep back into the classrooms. But, so far, the case counts in most schools and communities throughout the Chicago area have been much lower than they've been in other portions of the state.

As of Friday, there have been 26 outbreaks at schools across the state in the past month—mainly at downstate schools. Carlyle School District in Clinton County is currently dealing with an outbreak that's seen more than two dozen students test positive and another 150 quarantined due to coronavirus exposure, state officials said.

There are four schools reporting outbreaks in Cook County, including Glenbrook Elementary School where 11 to 16 students have tested positive for the virus so far, and two in Kane County, according to Illinois Department of Public Health data.

Locally, District 155, a Crystal Lake-based high school district with 5,600 students, is reporting nine active cases of COVID-19 at its four high schools, according to D155's COVID-19 dashboard, which is updated weekly on Wednesday. There have been 25 students who've contracted the virus since Aug. 11. In total, 83 students are in quarantine.

There are currently four active cases among D155 staff members and 13 who have tested positive since school started. As of Wednesday, seven of the 707 D155 teachers or staff members are in quarantine.

Crystal Lake South High School has seen the most students contracting the virus among the district's four high schools; there have been 10 students who've tested positive so far this year. As of Wednesday, 27 students are in quarantine.

In the past two weeks, 46 District 158 students and staff members have tested positive for the virus, including 10 students at Huntley High School. As of Thursday, 167 students and four staff members are in isolation or quarantine.

As of Friday, District 47 reported 10 COVID-19 cases at five different schools and 119 students were in quarantine.

District 300 officials reported two students have been hospitalized and 48 have tested positive for the virus since the start of the year. More than 300 have been required to quarantine, according to a Northwest Herald report.

• 2 D300 Students Hospitalized With COVID-19

On Thursday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced new mitigations meant to slow the spread of COVID-19, including mandated vaccinations for teachers, health care workers and college students.

Workers in health care, schools and college students and staff who do not provide proof of vaccination will be prevented from entering facilities unless they agree to required weekly testing, according to the governor's office.

A statewide indoor mask mandate will start Monday, Pritzker said Thursday.

• Vaccine Required For Teachers, Health Care Workers In Illinois

"Hospital staff are being overwhelmed and overburdened," Pritzker said. "People are dying who do not have to die."