The Pima County Health Department is telling schools to consider suspending in-person instruction as COVID-19 moves into substantial community spread in Tucson.
The three Arizona Department of Health Services metrics measuring the severity of the virus have gone into the red — number of cases per 100,000; the COVID-19 test positivity rate; and COVID-like symptoms seen in hospitals, Brian Eller, schools liaison for the Pima County Health Department, said in an email Friday, Dec. 11.
“We anticipate this situation will persist and next week the state will again report all three indicators in the red for Pima County,” he said. “Moreover, we do not believe that any new specific guidance for schools will be forthcoming from ADHS or the Governor’s Office in the near future.”
In 2012, a gunman with a semi-automatic rifle killed 20 first-graders and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and more events that happened on this day in history.
All three of those benchmarks were in moderate spread when the local health department gave schools the OK to begin limited in-person instruction. And the county health department has consistently said that when all three indicators are in the red for two weeks in a row, it is appropriate for schools to consider a return to all-virtual instruction, Eller said.
“We anticipate reaching that threshold next Thursday, and it is appropriate to begin preparations for that eventuality,” he said. “We make this recommendation despite our continued observation that the overwhelming majority of school-related cases are not acquired in the classroom.”
Transmission inside Tucson-area schools has been about 3% despite growing transmission throughout the community and a rising number of cases in schools — more than 1,000 cases since August. Gov. Doug Ducey has left decisions on closing up to individual schools and districts. As school boards across the state have agonized over these decisions, a number of Tucson districts have already announced a return to remote only, including Sunnyside, Sahuarita and Flowing Wells.
TUSD, the third-largest school district in the state, has yet to open for hybrid, and announced earlier this week that it will remain remote-only into the second semester in January.
“Pima County is committed to supporting all school districts and schools including those that may wish to continue in a hybrid status,” Eller said.
Photos: Back-to-school in Tucson during the pandemic
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maddy Jacobs, 7, middle, reaches for her remote learning tool kit from her teacher, Kris Green, as her friend, Carly Kupinski, 6, watches during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Augusta Iranzi, center, attends his teachers online class while monitors Jasmine Phillip, left, and Nadifo Yusuf, watch students inside a classroom at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Lily Baser, 8, identifies herself for easy remote learning tool kit pickup during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Krista Westmoreland, left, a third grade teacher, shows the remote learning tool kit of a student to Anna Ames, music teacher, during the "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maya Brown, 9, rides in style for her remote learning tool kit pickup during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Multiage teachers Kris Green left, and April Pollow greet and cheer on their students during a "Mustang Stampede" at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Maddy Jacobs, 7, left, waves to her teacher as she stands in the sunroof with her friend, Carly Kupinski, 6, during a "Mustang Stampede" to pickup their remote learning tool kit at Manzanita Elementary School for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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For the first day of school teachers at Manzanita Elementary School greeted their students during a "Mustang Stampede" and handed out remote learning tool kits on August 17, 2020.
"Mustang Stampede"
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Kim Boling, principal at Manzanita Elementary School, greets her students and parents with a mustang during the "Mustang Stampede" for the first day of school on August 17, 2020.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Yarani Martinez gives a monitor a thumbs up to inform the monitor that his online class is working after classes began at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Alice Flores, right, watches as her grandson Jesus Silva is escorted to the cafeteria before classes began at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
First Day of School, John B. Wright Elementary
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Augusta Iranzi follows the directions on the floor while being escorted to a classroom at John B. Wright Elementary School, 4311 E. Linden St., in Tucson, Ariz. on August 17, 2020. About 10 students came to school for online instruction under the guidance of classroom monitors.
