CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 08: A sign in a hallway at King Elementary School encourages social distancing as the school works to maintain a safe environment during the coronavirus pandemic on September 08, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. Students at King Elementary and the rest of Chicago public schools started classes today remotely because of COVID-19 concerns. Teachers have the option of teaching from home or from their classrooms. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Massachusetts schools this week reported 1279 new COVID-19 cases among students and staff.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released the numbers Thursday in its weekly COVID-19 report. A total of 1095 students and 184 employees with district building access within seven days of the report tested positive between April 8 and April 14.
The case report marks an increase of 312 total cases from the previous week. The last report said 821 students and 157 district staff tested positive, for a total of 967 cases.
The majority of students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Massachusetts returned to in-person learning last week as part of the plan outlined by the state's Department of Education.
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The state approved waivers for dozens of districts that aren't ready to return full-time and parents may still opt to have their kids learn remotely for the remainder of the school year.
