More than 300 Carlsbad students and staff test positive for COVID-19 since winter break

Carlsbad Municipal Schools' reported on Jan. 18 that 344 students and staff tested positive for COVID-19 since returning to class on Jan. 3, according to an announcement from superintendent Dr. Gerry Washburn.

Washburn said 273 of them were students cases and 71 were staff cases.

As of Jan. 19, eight of the district's 11 schools enacted "enhanced COVID safe protocols," Washburn's announcement stated. These protocols include reducing indoor sporting events to 20 percent capacity.

Washburn said the district is required to begin enhanced protocols if more than five percent of the student population tests positive for COVID-19. He said the district is reviewing and updating these protocols to work with the Public Education Departments's test-to-stay program that was implemented in November.

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"Once we have clarity on what protocols we have to put in place we will let schools know what they need to do beyond current measures," Washburn said.

The test-to-stay program allows unvaccinated students to stay in school if they test negative for COVID-19 after they come in close contact with someone with the virus, according to the PED.

Washburn previously expressed concern about the high number of cases leading to staffing shortages that threatened to close schools. He said the district will continue to try to keep students in class and would determine the need for remote learning on a school-by-school basis.

The district is still waiting for 247 test results from the past three days. Washburn said students awaiting test results can still go to school as long as they have no symptoms.

More:Carlsbad Municipal Schools face rising COVID cases, staffing and testing shortages

COVID-19 case count in the last 14 days

• Carlsbad High School: 95 cases,  7.02% of student enrollment
• Alta Vista Carlsbad Intermediate School: 28 cases, 6.44% of student enrollment
• PR Leyva Carlsbad Intermedia School: 56 cases, 5.77% of student enrollment
• Cottonwood Elementary School: 33 cases, 4.57% of student enrollment
• Desert Willow Elementary School: 27 cases, 4.29% of student enrollment
• Early Childhood Education Center: 13 cases, 2.70% of student enrollment
• Carlsbad Early College High School: 11 cases, 5.73% of student enrollment
• Hillcrest Preschool: 4 cases, 1.61% of student enrollment
• Monterrey Elementary School: 15 cases, 4.74% of student enrollment
• Ocotillo Elementary School: 41, 7.50% of student enrollment
• Sunset Elementary School: 9, 2.48% of student enrollment
• Carlsbad Enrichment Center: 2, less than 1% total enrollment

While the district reported more than 300, it did not report any rapid responses on the CMS Rapid Response Dashboard.

A rapid response is initiated after at least one or more people from the school test positive for COVID-19 within a 24-hour timeframe. The school is required to identify and test anyone they came in contact with.

Claudia Silva is a reporter from the UNM Local Reporting Fellowship. She can be reached at csilva2@currentargus.com, by phone at 575-628-5506 or on Twitter @thewatchpup.