With the number of COVID-19 cases rising, Onslow County Schools is holding off on a full return to in-person instruction for its elementary schools following the Christmas break.
The school district announced Thursday evening that the district will continue using Wednesdays as remote learning days for students in kindergarten through fifth grades through the end of March 2021. Students in grades K-5 were scheduled to begin in-person instruction five days a week on Jan. 5.
Appropriate adjustments to the K-5 school calendar are included as part of a COVID-19 update to be presented at the Jan. 5 meeting of the Board of Education.
Onslow Memorial Hospital is expected to get the first shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine in Onslow County this week but few other details have been released about who will get the first vaccinations.
Citing security concerns, OMH is not releasing the specific date of receipt of the vaccine but Erin Tallman, senior vice president, patient advocacy and compliance officer, said they anticipate putting out a news release with further information later this week.
Tallman said OMH is expecting about 975 doses of the vaccine.
Onslow County Manager Sharon Russell indicated in a Monday night COVID-19 update that the first vaccinations will include healthcare workers on the front line of treating COVID-19 patients.
Three of the four newly elected members of the Onslow County Board of Education have been sworn into office.
Incumbent Ken Reddic was administered the oath of office along with new members Melissa Oakley and Eric Whitfield in a ceremony Tuesday night at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center.
“Now the real work begins,” Oakley said after the brief ceremony. Her family and Onslow County Commissioner Robin Knapp stood with her as she took the oath of office.
The three were sworn in by District Court Judge Michael Surles, who administered the oath from a microphone more than six feet away from the board members and their families to abide by safety guidelines to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
A second cluster of COVID-19 cases in one of Onslow County’s public schools has been announced by the school district.
A cluster of six cases was confirmed at Dixon High School, Onslow County Schools announced Tuesday morning but did not indicate whether the cases involved staff or students.
According to the news release, the Onslow County Health Department notified OCS and DHS administrators late Friday that a cluster had been identified. The health department also reported the information to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
NCDHHS defines a cluster as a minimum of 5 cases with symptom onset or initial positive test results within a 14-day period and a probable common linkage between cases.
Due to health concerns related to COVID-19, the swearing in of the school board members-elect will be done in two separate ceremonies and the first meeting of the newly elected Onslow County Board of Education will not be held until January.
The oath of office will be administered Tuesday, Dec. 15, Ken Reddic, who was re-elected to another term, and newcomers Melissa Oakley and Eric Whitfield. The ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. at the Eastern North Carolina Regional Skills Center in Jacksonville.
Due to ongoing health concerns for newly elected board member Joseph Speranza, he will be sworn into office separately on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 4 p.m. at the ENCRSC. Speranza announced Nov. 25 on his social media page that he have tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined.