6 Coronavirus Cases Linked To Lundahl Middle School

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Lundahl Middle School has shifted its students back into remote learning after health officials say a coronavirus outbreak has been linked to cases at the school. District 47, which tracks COVID-19 cases on its website and updates those stats weekly, saw a huge spike in students testing positive last week with 15 confirmed cases as of Friday.

On Tuesday, six students or staff members from Lundahl have tested positive for the coronavirus, Denise Barr, director of communications and public engagement for District 47, told Patch in an e-mail response. All other District 47 schools were moving forward with the district's hybrid plan, and D47 was not looking to move any other schools to remote learning.

"We will continue to work closely with the MCHD (McHenry County Health Department) as we take our lead from them," Barr said.

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Superintendent Kathy J. Hinz shared the news about the outbreak at Lundahl in an e-mail to parents on Monday. An outbreak in a school is defined as two confirmed cases of COVID-19 infections or occurring within 14 calendar days of each other in individuals in the same classroom, team, or club, according to the MCDH.

Like many school districts throughout the Chicago area, District 47 recently shifted to a hybrid model for learning in recent weeks.

"As we continue to implement our return-to-learn plan and the hybrid model, these transitions to and from remote learning may occur at other D47 schools due to changing pandemic conditions," Superintendent Kathy J. Hinz wrote in a letter to D47 parents Monday.

Lundahl will be closed for the next 14 days, and staff will implement rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols as outlined by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

District 47 is among a handful of area school districts that began publishing the number of cases throughout the district on its website in recent weeks. State and local health officials Illinois do not typically provide data to the public regarding outbreaks or cases linked to schools.

• Nearly 500 COVID-19 Cases Linked To IL Schools: See Where

District 47's data shows only one person within D47 schools tested positive for COVID-19 the first week the dashboard was up, and then the following two weeks, two additional people tested positive each week. Last week, the number of new cases jumped to 15, according to D47's data, which is updated weekly on Friday.

The spike in cases comes at a time when McHenry County has also seen a huge jump in its positivity rate, which jumped nearly two percentage points in just one week. As of Oct. 14, the COVID-19 positivity rate was 8.9 percent in McHenry County, according to Illinois Department of Public Health stats. The spike in the positivity rate and an increase in hospital admissions could mean more mitigations, such as the end to indoor dining or restrictions placed on sports, could be coming soon.

• COVID-19 In McHenry Co.: More Restrictions Possible This Week

The week of Oct. 4, McHenry County saw 313 new cases of COVID-19, which was the first time the county saw its weekly total for coronavirus cases tip over 300.

Between Oct. 13 and Monday, the county saw 440 people test positive for coronavirus, according to MCDH data. On Saturday, 104 tested positive for the virus shattering the county's previous one-day record of 81 cases, which was recorded Friday.

Prior to that, days for record high COVID-19 cases would tip into the 50s and near the 60s but even during March and April, when several outbreaks were being reported in long-term care facilities, the daily record for cases typically remained well below the recent daily case count.

More testing could be a factor. But local health officials say more people gathering could also be at play and are urging residents to do their part to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“Every interaction you have with people from other households carries risk. Carefully consider your plans for social gatherings, holiday get-togethers, and travel. Please do your part to protect yourself and others,” said Melissa Adamson, Public Health Administrator for the McHenry County Department of Health.

Another McHenry County school, Community Unit School District 200 in Woodstock, opted to remain in remote learning instead of switching to a hybrid model due the surge in cases in the county.

More on Patch

• District 158 Athletes Test Positive For COVID-19
• Illinois Coronavirus Deaths Could Double By Feb. 1: Report
• Kane County Back On Watch List As Positivity Rate Tops 9%
• More Restrictions Possible As McHenry Co. COVID-19 Cases Spike