HOWELL (WWJ) -- COVID-19 outbreaks in schools have already jumped this week as classes begin in many districts.
Based on the weekly update from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, there's a coronavirus outbreak being reported at a school in Livingston County.
Howell High School is reporting that 14 people -- including students and staff -- have tested positive for the virus.
In a letter to parents, Superintendent Erin MacGregor said that the cases appear to be linked to an overnight marching band camp, which was held at an off-site facility in mid-August.
“While the band camp was not held on our property since it was a school function, this fits the MDHHS description of a school-related outbreak,” MacGregor wrote. ‘The Livingston County Health Department does not believe there has been any in-school transmission relating to this outbreak and that the risk for further transmission linked to these cases is very low.”
The letter also acknowledges that face coverings are recommended by MDHHS, the Livingston County Health Department (LCHD), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, though masks are not currently required in Howell public school buildings.
Last week, another Livingston County district -- Hartland Consolidated Schools -- put a temporary mask mandate into place after six students tested positive for COVID-19.
While face masks remain optional for Hartland School District, 25 cases of coronavirus have been reported among its seven schools since August 17, including nine cases at the high school.
MDHHS has strongly recommended “universal masking” in all Michigan schools this fall, but has left the individual school districts to decide whether or not to enforce mask mandates among staff and students.
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