COVID-19 Surge Forces US Schools to Close, Shift to Remote Learning As New Academic Year Begins

Some schools in the United States are now being forced to close and return to a remote learning model as COVID-19 cases see a sudden spike.

Two schools in Alabama and Tennessee were temporarily shut down just days into the new school year after reporting an uptick in COVID-19 cases. Officials for both states said they had to close the schools for a deep cleaning, as first reported by the Daily Mail. At one of the schools that closed, children had to revert to remote learning for two days.

There are concerns that other schools may follow suit, specifically those in New York, New Jersey, and Michigan, especially as more students return from Labor Day weekend.

US Schools Close as COVID-19 Spikes

In Alabama, school officials at the Johnson-Abernathy-Graetz (JAB) high school switched to remote learning after 15 faculty members tested positive for COVID-19. It is unclear how many of the school's students were infected with the virus. The school was closed for four days beginning August 14 while officials conducted a deep clean. The school has since re-opened, but officials have yet to make the wearing of face masks have yet to be made mandatory.

In Tennessee, Strigall Elementary closed for one day, specifically on August 13, as their school was cleaned. The closure affected nearly 250 students through first grade. It was unclear how many staff members or students were infected with COVID-19. Much like at JAB High School, masks have not been made mandatory at Strigall Elementary. However, school officials now require teachers to wipe down desks every time their students move to another class.

Rising COVID-19 Cases in the US

In the week ending August 17, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the US was 18%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC's wastewater surveillance program also noted that COVID-19 activity in wastewater in the south was nearing levels reported in January.

Experts believe the recent spike in cases is caused by Omicron's FLiRT variants, which make up the majority of infections recorded in the country.