A COVID-19 outbreak spread amongst a group of Marin County eight graders on a field trip to Washington, D.C. last week.
For more, stream KCBS Radio now.
The annual spring break trip was comprised of multiple students from different schools, and more than 50 have since tested positive after their return on Sunday, Marin County Public Health officials announced during a Wednesday press conference.
The outbreak was discovered when 22 students tested positive before returning to school this week. Since then, 56 students have tested positive out of the total 112 students that were on the excursion.
"That's a relatively high attack rate," said Marin County Public Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis at the conference.
The trip is an annual rite of passage for students that takes them on a week-long trip to the nation's capital to learn about history. It's been canceled in recent years due to the pandemic.
No identities have been released as the children are minors. The schools have not been identified either.
There has so far been no known transmission within schools, according to Willis. The affected students are showing mostly mild symptoms.
"Importantly, one of the reasons why this has not had a significant impact and has not been significantly disruptive to our schools, and why we haven't seen more severe illnesses is that 90% of our 8th graders are fully vaccinated in Marin," he said.
This is one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, and 50% are not only vaccinated, they are also boosted, he said.
Right now people traveling to the East Coast are advised to get tested after returning and then again five days afterward, and to wear masks for five days if anyone in their travel group tests positive.
LISTEN to KCBS Radio
FAVORITE KCBS Radio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Related
