Within a week of opening, parents of Fair Oaks Elementary students received communication from the district warning of a positive COVID-19 diagnosis at the school site.
Correspondence from the district confirmed an adult tested positive but as of press time, there were no student cases reported by the district.
Contact tracing revealed the spread was due to social interaction, not student-to-student contact at school.
The students exposed to the COVID-positive adult will revert to distance learning until Nov. 9, noted school officials.
Currently, Stanislaus County is holding onto the red tier status with its fingertips as the threat of tumbling back into the more restrictive purple tier looms in the distance. Data from the county health department reports the county at 5.6 new cases per day.
In order to remain in the red tier Stanislaus County must keep new infections per day under seven.
According to the county health department, in order to advance to the orange “Moderate” tier, the county must be in the red tier for a minimum of three weeks, and meet the requirements for the orange tier for two consecutive weeks.
The requirement for orange tier is a maximum of only three new infections per day.
Health officials urge community members to adhere to responsible behaviors so that Stanislas County can meet the requirements for the orange tier.
Oakdale has a reported 529 positive cases; Riverbank, 871.
Community-wide testing is a critical step towards moving into the next tiers. Widespread testing provides a more accurate picture of how many cases exist in the community. Identifying cases will increase understanding of COVID-19 community transmission so officials can be prepared in stopping an outbreak.
Stanislaus County Public Health recommends testing for COVID-19 if anyone meets one of the following criteria:
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19, including fever, chills, cough, congestion, sore throat, difficulty breathing, headache, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, or new loss of taste or smell;
If you were in close contact (within 6 feet for over 15 minutes) or think you were in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19;
If you work in an environment with high risk for exposure, such as a hospital or medical clinic, long-term care facility, homeless shelter or prison, factory, or farm;
You work in an occupation where you are frequently in contact with the public, including jobs such as first responders, teachers, personal caregivers, housekeepers, construction workers, food service/restaurant workers, gas station and grocery store workers.
Oak Valley Community Hospital offers coronavirus testing but the following locations also offer drive-up testing on the following days within Stanislaus County:
Thursday, Oct. 29: Mark Twain Jr. High, 707 S. Emerald Ave., Modesto, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31: Cambodian Center, 1528 Grimes Ave., Modesto, 9 a.m. to noon.
Monday, Nov. 2: Denair Unified School District, 3701 Lester Road, Denair, 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
