{"id":63122,"date":"2022-02-01T14:16:56","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T20:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=63122"},"modified":"2022-02-01T14:16:58","modified_gmt":"2022-02-01T20:16:58","slug":"covid-19-in-22-understanding-omicron","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=63122","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 in ’22: Understanding Omicron"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY PRESTON BURROWS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With students\u2019 return to campus for the spring semester, COVID-19 is still a concern with the newest variant – Omicron. This variant of the virus has been detected in most states since it was first identified on November 11, 2021 in Botswana, Africa.
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The problem of the spread of Omicron seemed to have a particular impact on Hays public school districts this month as they reached a level 5 mitigation strategy that stated, \u201cDistrictwide Mask Mandate – close contacts will be notified.\u201d 
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This is determined by the number of active cases that the schools have, meaning USD 489 had to have 50 or more active cases for level 5 to be put in place. 
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Hays High School Para, Lauren Schriner says that the schools will reassess the active COVID numbers to see if they need to step up or down a level every week. 
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\u201cOur numbers definitely skyrocketed for COVID and the flu right after Christmas, but I would say now I only see a few kids out for it,\u201d Schriner said.
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She said she hopes the mask mandate would be recalled because of the level of dislike from students and teachers having to enforce it. 
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As of this week, Schriner got her wish, as the USD 489 school district has changed their policy on COVID-19 and Influenza, replacing the levels system that was used the week prior. This policy change removes the mandate of masks by everyone in the school district unless they test positive for COVID and return from their five-day quarantine. 
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