More than 600 students and employees at Gaston County Schools tested positive for COVID-19 during the first semester of the 2020-21 school year.
As of the week of Dec. 14, 2020, 650 students and employees contracted the virus at some point during the semester, according to charts provided by the school district.
That total includes 21 COVID-19 cases at the school district central office and seven cases among those in Gaston Virtual Academy.
Aside from the occasional dip, case totals per week within the school district has steadily increased since school began in August.
Gaston County Schools reported a massive jump, from 65 cases the week of Nov. 30 to 119 cases the following week.
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Hundreds of people took the next step in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic during a drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Thursday.
“It’s a historic moment for our county, for our state and for our nation. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for,” said Gaston County Public Health Director Steve Eaton during Thursday’s clinic.
Gaston County Health Department administered the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to police officers, firefighters, first responders, healthcare workers and other patients who are part of the first phase of vaccine allocation, which the CDC refers to as phase 1A.
Employees of Gaston County Health Department, GEMS and other clinicians filled Gastonia Fire Station No. 5 on Hudson Boulevard. Up to six cars fit in the station’s garage bays, where patients parked and received the vaccine without leaving their vehicles.